Abstract: Esophageal cancer is one of the common malignant tumors in the worldwide and has regional characteristics in China. At present, the treatment of esophageal cancer is still a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment mode based on surgery. With the application of minimally invasive technique in surgery of esophageal cancer, the concept of surgical diagnosis and treatment for esophageal cancer is constantly updating. The application of robotic surgical system in esophageal surgery promotes the surgical quality of lymph node dissection and improves the technique of intraluminal anastomosis under total endoscopy. For locally advanced esophageal cancer, a diagnosis and treatment mode based on neoadjuvant therapy has been gradually accepted by most of doctors around China. Combined with the latest researches at home and abroad, the authors investigate the development of surgical techniques, the renewal of surgical concept and the changes on diagnosis and treatment, summarize the new advances in comprehensive surgical treatment for esophageal cancer, in order to provide the theoretical guidance for the standardized treatment of esophageal cancer.