Abstract: Objective To analyze the predictive factors for lymph node metastasis（LNM） in early gastric cancer（EGC）patients. Methods Clinical and pathological data about LNM in 719 EGC patients who underwent operation in our hospital from 1996 to 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Results LNM was observed in 14.9% of EGC patients.Univariate analysis showed that the major factors for LNM in EGC patients were its location,size,histological classification,infiltration depth,and vascular or lymphatic invasion.Multivariate analyses revealed that the histological classification,infiltration depth,and vascular or lymphatic invasion of gastric cancer were significantly related with LNM. Conclusion LNM of EGC is related with its histological classification,infiltration depth,and vascular or lymphatic invasion.Reduction surgery is an appropriate procedure for it.