Objective To explore Chinese medicine syndrome rule of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with cluster analysis.Methods The clinical data of 80esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients was recorded such as general information

chief complaint and four methods of diagnostic information with clinical questionnaire.The basic personal information and Chinese medicine syndrome entry database was established.The clinical data was analyzed with hierarchical cluster method.Results Seventy-four symptoms of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were included and the frequent symptoms were difficult deglutition of solid food

sallow complexion

poor appetite

stuffiness and expansion of diaphragm

thin white tongue fur

and slippery and stringy pulse.Four kinds of syndrome were certified to have the best dispersibility through cluster analysis

i.e.stagnation of phlegm and qi

deficiency of qi and yang

liquid depletion with heat bind

and stagnation of static blood.Conclusion Hierarchical cluster analysis could contribute to classifying Chinese medicine syndrome

initially identifying syndrome diagnosis point and providing theoretical basis to Chinese medicine treatment for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.