Objective To assess the tolerance of elderly patients with esophageal carcinoma to chemoradiotherapy through.Methods A retrospective analysis of 596 elderly patients with esophageal carcinoma receiving chemoradiotherapy was conducted.Patients were divided into radiachemotherapy group and radiotherapy group,and according to age,patients were divided into four age groups (aged 70-74,75-79,80 80 and 85years and over).The tolerance to treatment was assessed by Charlson index.Results 185 patients completed chemoradiotherapy,113 patients reduced the dose of chemotherapy (reduction group),81 patients unfinished chemoradiotherapy (unfinished CRT group),160 patients completed radical radiotherapy alone (unfinished RT group),and 57 patients incompleted radiotherapy.Further analysis found that the tolerance to treatment in reduction group had significant differences between patients aged ≥ 75 years and ＜ 75 years (x2 =6.815,P=0.009),and between WIC ≥ 1 and ＜ 1(x2 =10.636,P=0.001); the tolerance to treatment in unfinished CRT group had significantly differences between aged ≥ 80 years and ＜80 years (x2 =63.842,P=0.000),and between WIC =0,1 and ≥ 2 (x2 =21.153,P=0.000).Conclusions Further age re-grouping and WIC assessment is necessary before treating esophageal cancer patients.Reduction of therapy dosage is more beneficial for patients aged ≥ 75 years and WIC≥1,and greater caution is required in chemotherapy for patients aged ≥ 80 years and WIC＞1.