Objective:To retrospectively analyze the treatment effect and the patterns of failure associated with different clinical target volume on patients with esophageal cancer treated with three dimensional conformal or intensity modulated radiotherapy, and to determine whether involved field radiotherapy is practicable in these patients. Methods:A total of 68 patients with esophageal squa-mous cell carcinoma between January 2007 to June 2011 in our hospital underwent three dimensional conformal or intensity modulated radiotherapy, according to the CTV range is divided into lymph involved-field group (involved field group) and lymph extended field group (extended field group). Results:In Involved field group and expand field group the survival rate of 1, 2 years were 59%, 41%and 61%, 39% respectively (P=0.56), and local control rates were 66%, 48% and 68%, 49% respectively(P=0.78). The total failure rates of involved field and the expand field were 63%and 66%(P=0.89). The local failure rate was 53%and 59%, distant metastasis failure rates were 47%and 44%, the regional failure rates were 11.8%and 7.5%in Involved field and the expand field, there were no difference in Statistics (P=0.39). The lung V10, V20, V30 and mean lung dose of extended field group were greater than that of the in-volved field group, while the mean lung dose and V10 has statistical difference. Conclusion:The involved field group was similar as the extended field group in the survival rate and local control rate, the regional recurrence and distant metastasis are the main cause of treatment failure, so the involved field radiotherapy is feasible for locally advanced esophageal carcinoma.