Abstract: Esophageal cancer is a common malignant tumor. Surgery is still the main method for treatment of esophageal cancer. The surgical approach mainly depends on the lesion site, lymph node cleaning scope and digestive tract reconstruction path. The lymph node dissection range has been controversial. The seventh edition of tumor TNM staging standard recommended by the UICC advices that it needs to clean at least 12 pieces of the regional lymph nodes, but there is no regulation on lymph node dissection. This article is trying to review the number of lymph node cleaning and lymphadenectomy in surgery for esophageal carcinoma, and to discuss the existing problems on them.