Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the mobility of esophageal tumor and its relationship with re-sectability of the tumor.Methods: The longitudinal movement of esophageal tumor was observed andmeasured by barium swallow study.Results: According to the extent of the movement, the tumor mo-bility was defined as follows: grade 0: tumor fixed with no visible movement; gradeⅠ: tumor movementof 0.1-0.5 cm; gradeⅡ: tumor movement of 0.6-1.0 cm and grade Ⅲ: tumor movement of more than 1cm.Conclusion: There is a negative correlation between the mobility of esophageal tumor and the in-vasion. In patients with grade-0 lesions, there is no operative indication. In grade I, careful considera-tion must be given in deciding exploration and the resection of tumor may be difficult and incomplete.In grade Ⅱ, the resection may be relatively easy despite of invasion. In degree Ⅲ, a complete resectioncan be expected. The mobility of esophageal tumor can be applied as an easy, objective and cost-effec-tive indication in pre-operative evaluation of such patients.