Abstract： Objective　To study the pathologic features of occult lymphatic metastasis in supraglottic carcinoma.Methods　Serial sections of 153 neck dissection specimens in 100 patients with supraglottic carcinoma were evaluated under the microspcope.Results　In 100 patients, 38 had occult metastatic lymph nodes. 51 metastatic lymph nodes were found in pathology, and their sizes ranged from 0.5?cm to 2.6?cm (average 1.1?cm). The distribution of 51 lymph nodes was 1 in level Ⅰ (2%), 37 in level Ⅱ (73%), 12 in level Ⅲ (24%), and 1 in level Ⅳ (2%). Among the 51 nodes, 21 (41%) were early stage, 18 (35%) were growth stage, 7 (14%) were tull stage, and 5 (10%) were extracapsular stage. The differentiation degree and appearance of supraglottic carcinoma was not directly related with occult metastasis.Conclusion　The occult metastatic rate of supraglottic carcinoma is high, and selective neck dissection may be necessary.