Table 3.

Radiation therapy for esophageal cancer: indications and pros and cons

Treatment method	Indication	Advantage	Disadvantage
Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy	- Locally advanced or inoperable patients, can precisely target tumor areas	- Non-invasive; effective for patients who cannot undergo surgery	- Potential side effects include radiation-induced esophagitis and pneumonia
IMRT	- Tumors in complex locations or near critical structures, IMRT optimizes dose distribution and reduces damage to normal tissues	- Precise targeting reduces radiation exposure to surrounding tissues	- Requires advanced technology and may still lead to side effects, especially if not optimally targeted
Proton therapy	- For tumors in complex locations or recurrence after radiation therapy, proton therapy provides higher precision	- Higher precision in targeting tumors, reducing damage to surrounding tissues	- Expensive and limited availability in some regions
Chemoradiotherapy combined	- For locally advanced or inoperable patients, chemoradiotherapy improves treatment outcomes and survival rates	- Enhanced local control and survival rates when chemotherapy is combined with radiotherapy	- Increased side effects due to the combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy

IMRT, intensity-modulated radiotherapy.