Esophagitis is an inflammation caused by edema and congestion of esophageal mucosa due to abnormal stimulation of superficial or deep tissues of esophagus, while esophageal cancer is a kind of malignant tumor of esophagus. The main symptoms of esophagitis are mainly heartburn, acid reflux and chest pain, etc. A few patients can have difficulty in swallowing due to esophageal stenosis. Early symptoms of esophageal cancer are atypical, and the main symptoms are post-sternal discomfort, burning sensation, pins and needles or tugging pain; when eating, food passes through slowly and there is a feeling of stagnation or mild choking sensation, and the early symptoms are mild or severe, and the duration varies, or even asymptomatic. Late symptoms include progressive dysphagia, sore throat, weight loss, anemia and malnutrition. Esophagitis can be cured by changing living and dietary habits and using medication such as acid-suppressing drugs and pro-dynamic drugs. The key to the radical treatment of esophageal cancer lies in the early diagnosis of esophageal cancer, and the treatment methods mainly include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and comprehensive treatment. Early and timely radical treatment has a good prognosis, and untreated patients usually die within one year after symptoms appear. Esophagitis and esophageal cancer are two different diseases, some of the symptoms are similar in the early stage, but they can be clearly distinguished through examination.