Objective To investigate the relationship between Qi-deficiency syndrome of traditional Chinese medicine and pathological type

differentiation grade

TNM stage and their significance in prognosis of esophageal cancer. Methods The 230 patients with esophageal cancer were observed based on syndrome differentiation of TCM and divided into two groups: Qi-deficiency syndrome group and non-Qi-deficiency syndrome group. The symptoms

workup

operational information

pathological data and follow-up results of the two groups were evaluated. Results Of the 230 patients

70 patients had the symptom of Qi-deficiency syndrome

the occurring rate was 30.4%. There was a significant difference between Qi-deficiency syndrome group and non-Qi-deficiency syndrome group in the differentiation grade

infiltrating depth

lymph node metastasis

TNM stage and prognosis of esophageal cancer （P<0.05）. Those with Qi-deficiency syndrome had low differentiation grade

deeper infiltration

serious lymph node metastasis

late in TNM stage and poor prognosis of esophageal cancer than those without Qi-deficiency syndrome （P<0.05）. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the pathological and histological type （P>0.05）. Conclusion There is close relation between Qi-deficiency syndrome and the clinical and pathological features of esophageal cancer. The prognosis of esophageal cancer patients with Qi-deficiency syndrome is worse.