Chest pain located behind the sternum with a burning sensation that worsens after meals may be esophagitis or esophageal cancer. Esophagus is a slender digestive tube connecting pharynx and stomach, which can be divided into cervical, thoracic and abdominal segments. When there is a lesion in the esophagus (e.g., inflammation or tumor), the esophagus will be stimulated by the lesion, resulting in burning chest pain, and after meals, food passing through the esophagus will stimulate the lesion and aggravate the pain symptoms. Esophagitis is a chronic inflammation of the esophagus caused by various reasons, and the common ones, such as reflux esophagitis, not only show heartburn and burning chest pain, but also acid reflux of different degrees, and some patients may have chronic cough. Esophageal cancer is a malignant tumor of the esophagus with complex etiology, which may be related to poor dietary habits. It can be manifested as progressive dysphagia, obstruction of eating, accompanied by obvious emaciation. When the tumor continues to invade the esophagus, chest pain, heartburn and other symptoms may appear, and when there is localized breakage of the esophageal mucosa, the symptoms will be aggravated after eating. When heartburn, retrosternal pain, or other symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek timely medical treatment to avoid delaying the condition.