Purpose:To study the surgical treatment of the cases with cancer of esophageal and gastroesophageal conjunction by thoracotomy. Methods:Total of 43 patients were selected. Squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus were found in 26 patients,among them 23 received radical resection and 3 failed due to massive invasion of the tumor.The rest were diagnosed as adeno carcinoma of cardia,13 of them undergoing radical resection and 4 failed.Results:The results of the whole group were surgical resection 93.0 %,complication 41.9% and operative mortality 4.7%.Conclusions:The authors conclude that selecting patients with precise indications as well as treating complication correctly was very important for surgical procedures of elderly patients.The pre-operative preparation,nutrition and approach for resection are also important.