Objective To compare the distribution of drug concentration in lymph nodes and blood between lymphatic chemotherapy and single drug chemotherapy and to study if nano carbon can enhance the number of lymph node dissection. Methods From June 2015 to February 2016, 80 patients with esophageal cancer in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital were enrolled and they were divided into two groups: a lymphatic chemotherapy with paclitaxel (LCP) group and a paclitaxel alone (PTX) group. There were 35 males and 5 females with an average age of 60.63±8.78 years in the LCP group, and 30 males and 10 females with an average age of 62.13±7.89 years in the the PTX group. We observed the incidence rate of complications after operation, the number of lymph node dissection and the rate of lymph node metastasis. The drug concentration in the blood and lymph nodes between the two groups was compared. Results The postoperative morbidity did not increase in the both groups, which did not have adverse drug reactions such as bone marrow suppression, gastrointestinal reaction and so on. The concentration of chemotherapy drug in lymph nodes in the LCP group was higher than that in the PTX group. The LCP group collected 771 lymph nodes, and the average number was 19.27±7.77 for each patient; the PTX group collected 658 lymph nodes, and the average number was 16.45±7.12 for each patient; but the difference between two groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion Nano carbon carriers can effectively improve the drug concentration in lymph nodes after the local injection of chemotherapy drugs. The use of nano carbon tracer in the operation to improve lymph node dissection may not have significance.