A total of 88 patients with epidermoid carcinoma of esophagus treated with definitive radiotherapy at Department of Radiation Oncology. Yonsei University College of Medicine between Jan. 1971 and Dec. 1986 were retrospectivelv analysed. 1) Age distribution of patients was between thirty two and eighty with median age of sixty four and male to female ratio was 12:l. 2) Distributions of esophageal carcinoma were 8% at cervical esophagus, 68. 2% at thoracic upper two third. 22.7% Bt thoracic lower one third and 1.1% at multiple site. 3) Response rates were complete response 26.5%, partial response 67.6% and no response 5.9% 4) Median survival was 12 months, Two year and 5 year actuarial survival rate were 23% and 7% respec ti vely. 5) Median survival and 4 year actuarial survival rate by treatment modality were as follows; radiation therapy alc!ne was 12 months and 12.6% and combined chemo-radiotherapy was 11 months and 7.8%. There was no difference in survival rate between two groups. 6) Patterns of treatment failure were locoregional failure 43.2%, distant failure 21.6% and both locoregional and distant failure 35.2%. 7) Statistically significant prognastic factors were tumar response to radiotherapy (P=0.000) and tumor location (P=0.043), while all others such as age, sex, tumor size, chernotherapy and radiation dose were not important.