Objective: To analysis the factors affecting lymph node metastasis in stage IB1 to IIB uterine cervical cancer. Methods: A total of 158 patients with stage IB to IIB cervical carcinomas treated with radical hysterectomy and systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy were retrospectively analyzed. The logistic multivariate analysis was used to select independent high-risk factors. Results: Thirty-six (22.8%) patients had pelvic lymph node metastasis. Of 36 lymph node metastases, 22 were in the obturator, 15 in the internal iliac, 10 in the external iliac, 7 in the common iliac, 4 in the deep inguinal, 1 in the parametrial iliac and 1 in the para aortic. Univariate analysis revealed that tumor size, preoperative SCC-Ag level and parametrial invasion were related to pelvic lymph node metastasis. Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor size greater than 4 cm and parametrial invasion were independently associated with nodal metastasis. Conclusion: The obturator lymph nodes are most frequently involved in stage IB~IIB uterine cervical cancer. Tumor size greater than 4 cm and parametrial invasion are high-risk factors of pelvic lymph node metastasis.