Abstract: Objective To clarify the epidemiological characteristics and changing trends of esophageal cancer in the past five years, and to provide scientific data support for the current prevention and treatment of esophageal cancer in China. 
Methods The clinical data of 15 661 patients undergoing gastroscopy in Xijing Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University were collected for retrospective analysis, and the detection rate and distribution characteristics by gastroscopy for esophageal cancer were calculated. 
Results The detection rate of esophageal cancer in this study was 4.70%. From 2016 to 2020, the detection rate of esophageal cancer was 3.79%, 4.03%, 4.10%, 5.23%, and 5.42%,respectively, showing a trend of a gradual increase(P＜0.05). The proportion of males and females was 70.79% and 29.21% respectively, and the number of males was larger than that of females(P＜0.05). The age distribution of esophageal cancer was mainly in the group over 50 years(29.89%) and over 60 years(34.92%), and the composition ratio was higher than other age groups(P＜0.05). The distribution of lesion sites and tissue types of esophageal cancer was mainly in the middle portion of the esophagus(63.99%) and squamous cell carcinoma(88.99%), and the composition ratio was higher than other lesion sites and tissue types(P＜0.05). The regions and occupations of esophageal cancer were mainly in rural areas(82.20%) and farmers(69.70%), and the composition ratio was higher than other regions and occupations(P＜0.05). 
Conclusion From 2016 to 2020, the detection rate of esophageal cancer in Xijing Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University is increasing year by year. It is more likely to occur in the middle portion of the esophagus, and the main pathological type is squamous cell carcinoma. Rural men over 50 years of age are the high-risk population. Therefore, it is of significance to strengthen early screening.

Key words: esophageal neoplasms, gastroscopy, epidemiologic characteristics