Esophageal cancer patients had the highest intensive care unit (ICU) admitted rate in cancer patients. But their prognosis and evaluation methods were rarely studied.To depict the short-term mortality outcome and identify the potential prognostic factors of esophageal cancer patients admitted into ICU.A multicenter cross-sectional study was performed from May 10, 2021 to July 10, 2021 at ICU departments of 37 cancer specialized hospitals in China. Patients aged ≥ 14 years with ICU duration ≥ 24 hours were included. Clinical records of patients with primary esophageal cancer diagnosis were reviewed. Patients were separated into groups according to the 90 days survival. Characteristics between groups were compared. Single and multi-variate regression tests were applied to analyze the correlated factors of ICU outcomes. Predictive values of disease severity scores were assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.Total 180 esophageal cancer patients were included. The 90 days mortality was 22.2%. Patients with mortality outcome showed differences from those survived mostly in disease severity and unplanned transfer from clinical ward. The current evaluation tools, including Sequential Organ Failure Assessment and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores had low accuracy in prediction of short-term death. ICU admitted esophageal cancer patients have poor prognosis, especially those with acute illness.The prognostic tools for these patients need to be further optimized.©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.