Determination of radiotherapy target volume for esophageal cancer

Esophageal carcinoma is a lethal disease that is endemic to many parts of the world, particularly in the Taihang Mountains of China. Radiotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of advanced esophageal carcinomas. Although the radiotherapy technology for esophageal carcinoma has progressed recently, after a long history, there still remain issues and concerns about determining the appropriate target volumes. The target volumes influence precise dose delivery, clinical results, and radiotherapy complications. In this article, we review current target volume determination approaches and our experiences.