Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in tumor invasiveness and metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression pattern of MMPs in the primary tumor of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) with cervical node metastasis and to correlate the expression of MMP in the primary tumor with the presence of extracapsular spread (ECS) in nodes with metastasis. A retrospective study was conducted. Paraffin blocks were obtained from 40 HNSCC patients with cervical node metastasis who underwent surgery as an initial treatment between 2004 and 2011. Expressions of MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-12, and MMP-14 were investigated immunohistochemically. MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-12, and MMP-14 were expressed in 27, 47.5, 55, and 57.5 % of cases, respectively. MMP-12 expression was found to be significantly associated with ECS and correlated with nodal metastasis (p = 0.024, 0.011). No relation was found between MMP expression and survival. MMP-12 expressed in the primary tumor is a molecular marker that may be useful for predicting ECS in HNSCC patients with metastatic nodal disease.