Abstract: In 1984, mass survey for detecting early esophageal carcinoma(EEC) was carried out in high-incidence area of Linxian county of Henan province by medicalworkers of the Cancer Institute of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Radiologic examinations were done in 177 cases, all of them were positive for squamous cancer in cytologic examination. The results of X-ray examinations were EEC 122,highly suspicious of EEC 21, negative 34. 160 cases of EEC and 17 cases of atypicalhyperplasia were proved by endoscopic and pathologic examinations. Correlation ofX-ray and endoscopic findings was performed. The accuracy of X-ray examinationwas 81. 4%, sensitivity 84. 3%, false positive rate 4. 4%, false negative rate14. 1 %. Rdiologic examination has a significant role in the detection of EEC.Thefinal diagnosis of EEC can only be established by endoscopic and pathologic confirmation.