ObjectiveTo study the metastasis frequencies and areas of solitary bronchioloalveolar carcinoma(BAC) of different diameters, so as to guide the intraoperative lymph node dissection. MethodsA total of 137 patients with pathologically-confirmed solitary BAC received surgical treatment. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to tumor diameters: ≤2 cm group,2-3 cm group,and >3 cm group. The N1 and N2 lymph node metastasis rates of the 3 groups were analyzed. ResultsThe N1 lymph node metastasis rates were significantly different between the 3 groups (P<0.05); for tumors with greater diameter, the tenth group lymph nodes should be completely dissected. The N2 lymph node metastasis rates were not significantly between the 3 groups (P<0.05). ConclusionThe tumor diameter of BAC may be used to guide the dissection extent of N1 group lymph nodes, but not that of N2 group lymph nodes.