Fifty-seven patients were treated with first RIC for stricture after treatment for esophageal cancer between April 2008 and September 2019 at our institution. The indications for the first RIC were when all of the following were met: (1) presence of refractory esophageal stricture or close to its condition with patient’s request; and (2) confirmation of cure after esophageal cancer treatments such as CRT, ESD, surgery, or any combinations of these modalities. A stricture was defined as refractory when an ordinary-sized endoscope could not pass through the esophagus despite repeated EBD on more than six occasions within 6 months. RIC was not indicated for refractory long esophageal stricture (≥ 5 cm) after nonsurgical treatments due to the technical difficulty. The following were excluded from the study: (1) patients who were treated with RIC in order to perform endoscopic resection for other esophageal cancer on the anal side of the stricture; and (2) patients who could not be followed up for more than 6 months.