ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics of thoracic esophageal-gastric cancer (TEGC) and the safety and effectiveness of secondary reconstruction of thoracic and gastrointestinal tract after esophageal and preventriculus cancer (esophagogastric junction) surgery.MethodsThe clinical data of 353 patients with esophageal and preventriculus cancer who underwent endoscopic review from July 2007 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 31 (8.78%) patients with relapsed or recurrent TEGC were found, including 24 males and 7 females with a mean age of 58.5 years (range: 42 to 68 years). There were 18 (58.06%) patients of adenocarcinoma and 13 (41.94%) squamous cell carcinoma. All patients underwent TEGC resection and secondary reconstruction of thoracic gastrointestinal tract. Thoracoabdominal computed tomography (CT) and upper gastrointestinal imaging (GI) were performed during follow-up, and gastroscopy was performed for suspected patients. All the patients were followed-up till death or December 30, 2019. The survival rate was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method, and the survival was analyzed using the log-rank test. ResultsThirty-one patients underwent thoracic esophagectomy and gastric cancer resection, and then reconstruction of the thoracic and gastrointestinal tract. Eight patients underwent residual gastroesophageal thoracic anastomosis, 13 patients colon esophagectomy, 6 patients jejunal esophagectomy (1 patient esophago-jejunal Roux-en-Y anastomosis), and 4 patients cervical esophagogastric anastomosis. The mean operation time and intraoperative blood loss were 404.8 (340-475) min and 378.4 (180-620) mL. The postoperative complications ocurred in 4 patients, including 3 patients of pulmonary infection and 1 patient of cervical incision infection. The mean hospital stay was 17.1 (14-21) d. All patients were followed up, the median survival time of 11 patients in stage Ⅰ-ⅡA was 25 (19.8-35.0) months and 20 patients in stage ⅡB-ⅢA was 16 (12.5-19.5) months. There was a significant difference between the two groups (χ2=7.840 8, P<0.01).ConclusionPostoperative relapsed and recurrent TEGC occurs after the surgery for esophageal and preventriculus cancers, most of which are caused by metachronous gastric cancer or residual esophageal carcinoma recurrence which leads to invasion of the thoracic and gastric wall. Regular endoscopic review is the main method after operation. It is technically safe and feasible to reconstruct the thoracic and esophageal digestive tract in patients with TEGC after reoperation, which can benefit the survival of patients.