Objective To detect the expressive levels of hepatocyte growth factor and D2-40 and its correlation with clinicopathological factors and microlymphatic density in gastric carcinoma. Methods Immunohistochemistry method was used to detect the expression of HGF and D2-40 in gastric cancer tissue, with microlymphatic density(MLD) counted. Results The expression of HGF had the positive correlation with histologic types, infiltration depth, clinical stage and lymph node metastasis (P <0.05). No correlation was found in age, tumor diameter(P >0.05). In gastric cancer, the MLD in the HGF-positive group (22.8±10.9) was higher than that in the HGF-negative group(14.0±4.2, P <0.05). Conclusion The expressive levels of HGF have the positive correlation with histologic types, infiltration depth, clinical stage, lymph node metastasis and MLD in gastric carcinoma. HGF can be used to predict prognosis of gastric carcinoma.