Progress and future of esophageal cancer surgery

The surgical treatment of esophageal cancer is moving towards minimally invasiveness and individualization. Thoracoscopic‑laparoscopic esophagectomy has become the mainstream due to its superior short‑term outcomes and potential survival benefits. Robotic surgery demonstrates advantages in precise lymph node dissection, particularly in the protection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Transcervical mediastinoscopic esophagectomy provides a new option for patients unable to tolerate transthoracic surgery.For adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction, the choice between transthoracic and transabdominal approaches should be individualized based on factors such as the extent of esophageal invasion. In the treatment of cervical esophageal cancer, larynx‑preserving surgery is increasingly prominent. Additionally, active surveillance (organ-preser-vation strategy) after neoadjuvant therapy, as well as conversion and salvage surgeries, offer more curative opportunities for specific patients. The authors review the latest advances in the surgical treatment of esophageal cancer, provide an outlook on future directions, with the aim of offering references for clinical practice.