We have experienced fourteen patients of esophageal perforation at the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, Chonbuk National University Hospital during the period from mar. 1980 to Oct. 1990. The ratio between male and female patients was 5 : 9, and their age ranged from 22 years to 69 years. The causes of th eesophageal perforation were iatrogenic in 6 cases, foreign body 5 cases, diverticulitis 2 cases, and postpneumonectomy 1 case. The locations were cervical esophagus in 2 cases, upper thoracic in 2 cases, mid-thoracic 4 cases, and lower thoracic 6 cases. The underlying diseases associated with perforation were lye stricture, diverticulum, achalasia, and postpneumonectomy empyema. The treatments were supportive in 6 cases and combined with surgical measures in 8 cases. surgical measurs were as follows : incision and drainage in 2 cases, esophagectomy with esophagogastrostomy 3 cases, esophagocardiomyotomy with partial fundoplication in 1 case, simple closure with myoplasty and thoracoplasty 1 case, and empyema drainage and gastrostomy 1 case. There was no mortality.