Surgery is the major approach for the treatment of patients with resectable esophageal cancer. Patients treated with conventional surgery have poor survival rates. In recent years, many new theories of surgery for esophageal cancer are springing up and the quality of life and survival rates have been improved. However, controversies exist in the selection of appropriate surgical approach, minimally invasive esophagectomy and neoadjuvant therapy. The aim of this article is to discuss these three hot issues.