Abstract: For resectable elderly esophageal cancer, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy combined with surgery is still the preferred treatment under the condition of fully measuring the patient′s physical function. Definitive chemoradiation is the first choice for patients with inoperable esophageal cancer, and may be a good alternative for elderly operable patients with good response to tumor regression. For older patients (>80 years old), radiotherapy alone may be mild and conservative enough to be the preferred option. At the same time, compared with conventional radiation dose (50.4 Gy), selective regional lymph node irradiation, standard PF regimen (cisplatin + 5fluorouracil), radiotherapy of high dose (≥60 Gy), involving field irradiation combined with singledrug chemotherapy (such as tegio) can bring better prognosis.

Key words: Esophageal neoplasms, Radiotherapy, Neoadjuvant therapy, Radiotherapy dosage, Definitive chemoradiation