Objectives To investigate the value of serum cytokeratin 19 fragment(CYFRA21-1),carbohydrate anti-gen 19-9(CA19-9)and squamous cell carcinoma antigen(SCCAg)in the diagnosis of esophageal cancer.Methods 100 cases of esophageal cancer(study group)and 50 healthy subjects(control group)were recruited in the study,the serum levels of CYFRA21-1,CA19-9 and SCCAg in these patients were detected.Subgroups analysis was performed in study group by clinical staging,and the diagnostic value of CYFRA21-1,CA19-9 and SCCAg in detecting esophageal cancer was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC).Results The serum levels of CYFRA21-1,CA19-9 and SCCAg in study group were significantly higher than those in control group,and those were significantly lower in patients with stageⅠ-Ⅱdisease than those with stageⅢandⅣdisease,indicating statistically significant difference(P<0.01);the sensitivity of serum CYFRA21-1,CA19-9 and SCCAg in the diagnosis of esophageal cancer was 82.26%,and specificity was 91.33%,with positive predictive value being 86.14%,and negative predictive value being 89.57%,and AUC value was 0.864,the combined detection was superior to each measure utilized alone,the difference was significantly significant(P<0.05).Conclusion The combined detection of serum CYFRA21-1,CA19-9,and SCCAg can significantly improve the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in detecting the esophageal cancer.