The aim of the present study was to elucidate the characteristics and outcomes of abdominal esophageal cancer patients who were treated with esophagectomy. The records of 210 esophagectomy patients were retrospectively reviewed and the differences in postoperative outcomes and disease-specific survival between squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma were evaluated. Of the 20 abdominal esophageal cancer patients, 11 had squamous cell carcinoma, 8 had adenocarcinoma and 1 had adenosquamous cell carcinoma. The body mass index and serum albumin levels were significantly lower in the squamous cell carcinoma patients compared with those in the adenocarcinoma patients, and abdominal lymph node metastasis was significantly more frequent in the adenocarcinoma patients. Early recurrence occurred in 5 patients who had postoperative surgical site infection, microscopic residual cancer, and mediastinal lymph node metastasis. A Kaplan-Meier curve indicated a significantly shorter survival time in patients who underwent surgery with a thoraco-abdominal approach, who had postoperative complications, and who had microscopic residual cancer. This study demonstrated the significance of R0 resection and prevention of postoperative complications in improving the prognosis of patients with abdominal esophageal cancer.