ObjectiveTo explore the clinical features and the prognostic factors of neuroendocrine carcinoma of the esophagus. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 41 cases of neuroendocrine carcinoma of the esophagus admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between March 2008 and March 2014. There were 37 males and 4 females at a mean age of 61.1±7.9 years (ranged from 40 to 79 years). All patients underwent surgical resection and lymph node dissection. ResultsNo severe complications occurred during the perioperative period, and no death occurred during the period of hospitalization.Thirteen patients received postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Eleven patients received simple postoperative chemotherapy. One patient received postoperative radiotherapy. The remaining 16 patients did not receive any special treatment. The patients were followed up for 6 to 61 (24.0±13.6)months. Twenty-two patients survived, the other 19 patients died. The 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, 4-year, and 5-year survival rate was 80.49%, 39.02%, 21.95%, 7.32%, and 4.88%, respectively. The median survival of single surgical treatment and postoperative comprehensive treatment was 12.0 months and 25.0 months, respectively. The median survival of T2-T4 and T1 was 20.0 months and 37.5 months, respectively. The difference was statistically different (P<0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that the depth of tumor invasion, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy were independent factors of prognosis (P<0.05). ConclusionsNeuroendocrine carcinoma of the esophagus is rare and with a high degree of malignancy. It is expected to increase the long-term survival rate after surgical and postoperative comprehensive treatment.