Radiotherapy for Thoracic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an aggressive disease. Many patients have locally advanced disease or already have distant metastasis at presentation. Radiotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy improves the survival and surgical outcome compared to surgery alone. Definitive radiotherapy (RT) with or without chemotherapy is used in patients who decline surgery or are medically inoperable. Palliative radiotherapy using external beam radiotherapy or intraluminal brachytherapy is effective for dysphagia and pain control.