ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral prednisone acetate and oral prednisone acetate combined with local injection of triamcinolone acetonide for the prevention of esophageal stricture after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions. Methods Data of 52 patients with early esophageal cancer or precancerous lesions hospitalized from December 2014 to February 2019 in Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University were analyzed retrospectively. They were divided into the control group (group A, n=20), oral hormone group (group B, n=17) and oral medication combined with local injection group (group C, n=15). The rates of stenosis and refractory stenosis, endoscopic dilatation times after ESD, time interval of first dilation after ESD and adverse events related to the operation and administration of glucocorticoids were compared among the three groups. ResultsThe differences in stenosis rates [85.0% (17/20) VS 47.1% (8/17) VS 46.7% (7/15),P<0.01], rates of refractory stenosis [75.0% (15/20) VS 23.5% (4/17) VS 20.0% (3/15),P<0.01], and endoscopic dilatation times [3.50 (2.25, 6.00) VS 0.00 (0.00, 2.50) VS 0.00 (0.00, 2.00), P<0.01] were statistically significant among the three groups. In pairwise comparison, the above indicators in group B and group C were significantly lower or less than those in group A (P<0.05), but there were no statistical differences between group B and group C (P>0.05). The time intervals of the first dilation after ESD were significantly different among the three groups (27.7±9.4 d VS 110.1±46.0 d VS 147.4±9.4 d, P<0.01). In pairwise comparison, the first dilation intervals in group B and group C were longer than that in group A (P<0.01), and this indicator in group C was longer than that in group B (P<0.01). Two patients in the control group developed perforation after ESD but they were treated actively and recovered finally. No severe ESD, steroid, or perforation related adverse events occurred in any other patient of the three groups. ConclusionBoth oral prednisone and oral prednisone combined with local injection of triamcinolone acetonide after ESD can effectively and safely prevent esophageal stricture after ESD. Oral administration combined with local injection of corticosteroids can prolong the time interval of the first dilation after ESD, which is beneficial to the psychological recovery and the improvement of patients’ life quality after the operation.