The radiographic appearance of 16 uncommon primary esophageal tumors (4 adenoid cystic carcinomas, 3 adenoacanthomas, 4 small cell carcinomas, 2 adenopapillary carcinomas, adenocarcinoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma and malignant melanoma), is presented. These tumors were found in a retrospective study of 270 esophageal neoplasms. Sufficient radiographic, histologic and clinical data was available to substantiate primary esophageal origin of the tumors. Cylindromas tender to have a smooth surface and either funneled or polypoid appearance. None of the tumors, however, had radiographic appearance readily distinguishable from variable patterns of the common esophageal carcinomas. The age and sex distribution, location as well as prognosis of the rate adenocarcinomas appear to be similar to squamous cell carcinomas. The small cell carcinomas of the esophagus only had an average prognosis of 4 months. The x-ray examination was of little value in predicting local tumor spread, mediastinal metastases or prognosis.