Carcinoma of the esophagus occurs in an elderly population, and in most symptomatic patients is already incurable when the diagnosis is made. Treatment will fail to cure the patient in better than 90% of instances. In spite of this discouraging picture, wholewhile palliation for patients with esophageal cancer is an important and challenging problems for thoracic surgeons. During the period of June 1981-Dec. 1982, 87 cases of esophageal or cardia cancer were managed at the National Medical Center in Seoul. Male and female ratio was 4.1:1. The age of patient ranged between 34 and 74 years, and mean age was 53.6 years. In location of tumor, 75.9% of total cases was located at the esophagus proper, and 24.1% at the cardia. Operability and resectability were 65.5% and 27.6% respectively, and operative mortality was 25.0% and main causes of death were respiratory complications & intrathoracic anastomotic leakage. [KTCS 1983;2:243-250]