AIM: To study the distribution of positive lymph nodes within mesorectum and to investigate the possible micrometastasis in negative lymph nodes. METHODS: Large slice technique combined with tissue microarray was used in the pathologic study of 31 specimens.RESULTS: A total of 992 lymph nodes were harvested and cancer metastasis was found in 148 lymph nodes. Some positive lymph nodes were located in the outer layer of mesorectum and more at the same site of mesorectum as the primary tumor. Circumferential margin lymph node metastasis was observed in nine cases. No significant difference in occurrence of micrometastasis was observed in different stage tumors. CONCLUSION: Positive lymph nodes are distributed in mesorectum and micrometastasis can be found in negative lymph nodes.