ObjectiveTo analyze the patterns and related factors in cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with supraglottic carcinoma of cN0 stage.MethodsClinical data of 41 patients with supraglottic carcinoma of cN0 stage was analyzed retrospectively. The cervical lymph node metastasis rate, distribution of metastatic lymph nodes was evaluated. Their relations with T stage and pathologic differentiation were analyzed.ResultsThe total occult lymphatic metastasis rate was 39.0%.Grouped according to T classification, the metastatic rates in group T1, T2, T3 and T4 were 0, 14.3%, 45.8%, and 66.7% respectively. And the difference between groups T1+T2 and T3+T4 was statistically significant (P<0.05). Grouped according to pathological differentiation of tumor, the metastatic rates in groups of well, middle and poor differentiation were 27.3%, 40.0% and 55.6% respectively, while the differences among them were statistically insignificant (P>0.05).ConclusionsCervical lymph node metastasis in patients with supraglottic carcinoma of cN0 stage is related with T classification of tumor, and metastatic lymph nodes mainly locate at lateral levels II, III followed by IV. Therefore, selective jugular dissection is reasonable for the patients with supraglottic carcinoma of cN0 stage.