Objective To study the significance of No12 lymphadenectomy in patients of advanced distal gastric cancer undergoing D2 distal or total gastrectomy.Methods Clinical and pathological data of 193 distal gastric cancer cases undergoing D2 gastrectomy and No12 lymphadenectomy during Jan 2012 and Jan 2013 were analyzed retrospectively.Results In Borrmann Ⅲ,Ⅳ No.12a LN metastasis was significantly higher than that in Borrmann Ⅰ,Ⅱ (x2 =4.841,P =0.028).In cases of multiple cancer 12a LN metastasis was significantly higher than that in gastric angle,gastric antrum (11.1％ 、9.7％ 、30.4％).High-differentiated cancer was lower in LN metastasis than that of low differentiated both in No.12a group (x2 =4.292,P =0.038),and in No.12b group (x2 =4.079,P =0.043).In cases with serosal invasion LN metastasis was higher than that without infiltration both in No.12a group (x2 =8.107,P =0.004),and in 12b group (x2 =3.836,P =0.050).In cases of N 0 ～ 1 the LN metastasis was lower than that in N 2 ～ 3 in 12a group (x2 =10.960,P=0.001),12b group (x2 =4.989,P =0.026),and in 12p group (x2 =4.433,P =0.035 respectively).In cases of tumor diameter ＜3 cm,3 ～5 cm and ＞5 cm,the 12a lymph node metastasis rate was 4.2％,10.0％,and 29.2％,respectively.Tumor size ＞ 5 cm has higher metastasis rate in No.12a group (x2 =6.464,P =0.011).Conclusions No.12 lymphadenectomy should be included routinely in D2 gastrectomy in patients of distal gastric carcinoma.