ObjectiveTo explore the risk factors for lymph node metastasis in patients with T2 stage non-small cell lung cancer.MethodsThe clinical data of 271 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent surgical treatment in our hospital from 2014 to 2017 were collected, including 179 males and 92 females, with an average age of 62.73±0.58 years. The patients were divided into N0, N1, and N2 groups according to the lymph node metastasis status. The clinical data of the patients in different groups were compared.ResultsThe body mass index (BMI, P=0.043), preoperative lymph node enlargement (P<0.001), and tumor diameter (P<0.001) were significantly different among groups. The BMI (OR=1.131, 95%CI 1.001-1.277, P=0.048) and preoperative lymph node enlargement (OR=3.498, 95%CI 1.666-7.342, P=0.001) were independent risk factors for N2 lymph node metastasis, and tumor diameter was an independent risk factor for both N1 (OR=1.538, 95%CI 1.067-2.218, P=0.021) and N2 (OR=1.814, 95%CI 1.196-2.752, P=0.005) lymph node metastasis.ConclusionPatients with high BMI or enlarged lymph nodes before surgery have a high risk for N2 lymph node metastasis, and those with large tumor diameter have a high risk for both N1 and N2 lymph node metastasis.