Objective: to study the characteristics of cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma. Patients & Method: descriptive retrospective study an 84 patients suffering from papillary thyroid carcinoma. Results: Female/male ratio is 4/1. Age varies from 18 to 72, average 43.24. The most common age is 40-59 (40.05 percent). Lymph node metastasis ratio is 52 percent, Two patients have lymph node metastasis before primary diagnosis and 56.8 percent have lymph node metastasis at the time of primary diagnosis. Lymph node recurrence 76.5 percent in 3 years. Lymph node metastasis rate in group VI, IV, III, II, were 59.1 percent, 52.3 percent, 47.7 percent, 38.6 percent (subsequently). Lympho node metastasis was low in group V (6,8 percent), and no metastasis was found in group I There isn't significant difference from group VI to group II, III, IV metastasis in initial surgery, but in revision group (patients with lymph node recurrence) nodal metastasis in group VI was significantly higher in comparison with group II, II, IV Conclusion: Lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma is common, early diagnosis is the best way for cure.