Abstract: Objective: To investigate the diagnosis rate and survival rate of early esophageal carcinoma. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 86 cases of early esophageal carcinoma seen in our hospital between 1998 and 2004. Results: Seventy-three cases were identified by X-ray and all 86 cases were given a definitive diagnosis with esophagofiberoscopy.The diagnosis rate of electronic gastroscopy was 100% (86/86).The tumor resection rate was 100% (86/86) with a complication rate of 13.9% (12/86).No auxiliary treatment was administered.The 5-year survival rate was 94.2%. Conclusion: Symptoms of early esophageal carcinoma may be slight and non-specific and have a slow progression.Molecular biological targets can be used for laboratory diagnosis of esophageal cancer.Surgery consisting of inferior total excision and conventional region-al lymph node cleaning is the preferred method of treatment for early esophageal carcinoma.Early diagnosis is crucial for maintaining a high survival rate.Postoperative recurrence and metastasis are the major causes of death after surgery.Sur-gical removal may increase survival time, but surgery alone cannot completely cure these patients and regular follow-up is necessary for the improvement of patient survival.