Abstract: Objective To study the prognostic influence factors for small cell esophageal carcinoma （SCEC）. Methods Clinical data on the prognosis of 29 SCEC patients admitted to our hospital in January 1997-June 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. Results The median survival time of the 29 patients was 12 months. The median survival time of those who received chemotherapy and local therapy in stages Ⅱ-Ⅳ was 16.4 and 5.1 months,respectively, and their 1-year survival rate was 69.2% and 25%, respectively （P＜0.05）. Conclusion Surgery is the basic therapy for SCEC patients in stage I. Chemotherapy-based systematic treatment is the important therapy for SCEC patients in stages Ⅱ - Ⅳ.