食管癌是上皮来源恶性肿瘤,其病死率一直居高不下,多数患者经过食管癌切除术后仍死于肿瘤术后转移和复发。外周血是早期转移期间肿瘤细胞播散的主要途径。早期发现食管癌的外周血微转移病灶是临床有价值的预后检测指标。外周血微转移检测取材方便,重复性好,便于筛查和随访。本文拟就食管癌外周血微转移研究的进展予以综述。 Esophageal cancer is an epithelial-derived malignant tumor with a high mortality rate. Most patients still die of tumor metastasis and recurrence after esophageal cancer resection. Peripheral blood is the primary route of tumor cell dissemination during early metastases. Early detection of esophageal cancer peripheral blood micrometastasis is a clinically valuable prognostic test. Peripheral blood micrometastasis detection convenient drawing, good repeatability, easy to screen and follow-up. This article intends to review the progress of esophageal cancer peripheral blood micrometastasis.