Surgeons should scrutinize YouTube content on esophageal cancer as video reliability is inconsistent, impacting patient education.

• Out of 78 analyzed videos, those from public institutions had the highest quality scores, significantly better than patient experience videos (p < 0.001).
• Viewer engagement levels showed no correlation with video quality; popularity doesn’t guarantee reliable information.

Surgeons might consider guiding patients to credible sources, emphasizing those created by healthcare professionals to ensure accurate information.