Between 1980 and 1988, 206 patients with esophageal cancer were treated initially with radiotherapy. The patients were classified into three groups according to age. Ninety-four patients aged 43-69 years comprised Group A, 83 patients aged 70-79 years comprised Group B, and 29 patients aged 80-86 years comprised Group C. There were no statistically significant differences in background factors between Groups A, B, and C, except for the sex ratio. The male:female ratio was 7.5:1 in Group A, 3.9:1 in Group B, and 1.9:1 in Group C, with the difference between Groups A and C being statistically significant (p less than 0.05). High-dose-rate intracavitary irradiation (HDRII) with or without external irradiation (EI) was performed in 64%, 69%, and 83% of the patients from Groups A, B, and C, respectively. Patients in Groups A, B, and C achieved CR in 23%, 24%, and 34% of cases following radiotherapy. Two- and 5-year survival rates were 16.7% and 6.7% in Group A, 17.2% and 6.0% in Group B, and 27.1% and 20.3% in Group C. No significant differences were found in the patterns of failure and in the radiation-induced injuries between the three groups. Our data suggested that radiotherapy was the treatment of first choice for patients 80 years old and older.