Accurate assessment of lymph node status in superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is of great significance for preventing undertreatment and overtreatment. However, the accuracy of the commonly used preoperative imaging methods for evaluating lymph node status is not high, and it is urgent to develop a prediction model that can predict the risk of individual lymph node metastasis to assist in clinical decision-making. In this context, investigators intend to retrospectively collect the clinical and pathological data of 300 patients with superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, construct a lymph node metastasis risk prediction model. In addition, investigators are also preparing to prospectively collect tissue samples from 30 patients with superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to further explore the mechanism of lymph node metastasis.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from 2013 to 2022.
2. Histopathological diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma.
3. T1NxM0.
4. Received endoscopic resection or esophagectomy.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who received neoadjuvant therapy.
2. Positive surgical margin.
3. Prior malignancy requiring active treatment within the previous 3 years except for locally curable cancers that have been apparently cured.
4. Lack of complete histopathological information.

Patients with superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent endoscopic therapy or esophagectomy.