The results of pathological examination after surgery for esophageal cancer mainly look at the depth of infiltration of the lesion whether the lymph nodes have metastasis or not. Esophageal cancer is a relatively common malignant tumor of digestive tract, and surgery is an important way to treat esophageal cancer. After surgery, pathological tests can assess the pathological stage of the patient, and then guide the patient to choose the next treatment plan, as well as the prognosis. Whether there is lymph node metastasis through the depth of infiltration of the lesion can assess the staging of the patient and guide the choice of the next treatment plan. For those who have deep invasion, lymph node metastasis, and greater risk of recurrence and metastasis, they should actively carry out the postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other therapies, which can reduce the probability of the patient’s recurrence and metastasis. For patients with earlier staging and no lymph node metastasis, adjuvant therapy can be avoided to avoid the adverse reactions caused by radiotherapy, thus improving the quality of life of patients. In summary, after surgery, pathological examination mainly focuses on the depth of infiltration and lymph node metastasis.