[Discussion of the treatment of esophageal carcinoma,especially in the point of non-surgical treatments, from the viewpoint of medical oncology].

Recently,remarkable advances of non-surgical treatments such as endoscopic treatment and chemoradiotherapy (CRT) are made in the treatment of esophageal carcinoma. Endoscopic treatment is recognized a standard for m 1, m 2 esophageal carcinoma, and it's indication is being extended for sm esophageal carcinoma in combination with chemoradiotherapy. In stage I and stage II, treatment result of CRT is comparative with that of surgical resection. In patients with T 4 esophageal carcinoma, it is already accepted that CRT is a standard therapy. This progress of non-surgical treatments contributes to preservation of esophagus in the treatment of esophageal carcinoma. But various problems such as technical problems, complication of CRT and salvage surgery for non-CR or recurrent case also remain. To improve results in treatment of esophageal carcinoma,it is necessary that we make an effort to cooperate with surgeons and radiation oncologists, further.