['The optimal target of endoscopic dilation of postsurgical esophageal strictures is unknown. Our aim was to compare the dilation-free period of patients who underwent dilation up to 16\xa0mm with patients who were dilated up to 17 or 18\xa0mm.', 'We retrospectively analyzed adult patients who received bougie/balloon dilation for a benign anastomotic stricture after esophagectomy. An anastomotic stricture was defined as dysphagia in combination with a luminal diameter of ≤13\xa0mm at endoscopy. We analyzed the dilation-free period using Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox regression analysis.', 'Eighty-eight patients were dilated up to a maximum diameter of 16\xa0mm and 91 patients to a diameter >16\xa0mm. The stricture recurrence rate was 79.5\xa0% in the 16\xa0mm group and 68.1\xa0% in the >16\xa0mm group (p\xa0=\xa00.083). The overall dilation-free period had a median of 41.5 (range 8-3233) days and 92 (range 17-1745) days, respectively (p\xa0<\xa00.001). For patients who developed a stricture recurrence, the median dilation-free period was 28 (range 8-487) days and 63 (range 17-1013) days, respectively (p\xa0=\xa00.001). Cox regression analysis showed a reduced risk of stricture recurrence for patients who were dilated up to >16\xa0mm: crude hazard ratio (HR) 0.57 (95\xa0% confidence interval (CI) 0.41-0.81) and adjusted HR 0.48 (95\xa0% CI 0.33-0.70).'] Does endoscopic dilation of benign esophageal anastomotic strictures over 16 mm have a longer lasting effect?