This paper reports 32 patients with primary esophageal small cell undifferentiated carcinoma confirmed by histologic examination from April 1972 to January 1989 in our hospital. The 1-, and 3-, 5-year survival rates were 53.1%, 18.8% and 6.3%. 93.7% patients died of local un-control, recurrence or metastasis. The age, sex, tumor size, stenosis, position and the type in X-films did not influence the treatment results. Patients with primary esophageal small cell undifferentiated carcinoma should receive a multimodal treatment instead of surgery alone.