Malignant tumors of the bile duct have a high degree of malignancy and present atypical clinical symptoms, which results in the poor overall prognosis. Surgical treatment is still the best treatment modality at present. Biliary malignant tumors have a high potential for lymph node and distant metastasis, which may lead to the loss of opportunity of surgery to patients and the dismal prognosis. In order to reduce tumor recurrence, lymph node dissection is often needed in surgery. However, the scope and number of lymph node dissection for biliary malignant tumors have not been unified in relevant guidelines at home and abroad. Therefore, the authors address the clinical application progress of lymph node dissection in radical resection of biliary malignant tumors based on review of relevant guidelines and literature at home and abroad.