| Characteristic | 
  Number of patients  | 
  (%) | 
    
   
  | Age (years) | 
    | 
    | 
    
   
  |  Median | 
  67.5 | 
    | 
    
   
  |  Range | 
  45−89 | 
    | 
    
   
  | Sex | 
    | 
    | 
    
   
  |  Men | 
  109 | 
  95.6 | 
    
   
  |  Women | 
  5 | 
  4.4 | 
    
   
  | Performance statusa | 
    | 
    | 
    
   
  |  0 | 
  24 | 
  21.1 | 
    
   
  |  1 | 
  63 | 
  55.3 | 
    
   
  |  2 | 
  27 | 
  23.6 | 
    
   
  | Dysphagia | 
    | 
    | 
    
   
  | Absent | 
  9 | 
  7.9 | 
    
   
  | Can eat solid | 
  18 | 
  15.8 | 
    
   
  | Can swallow semiliquid | 
  42 | 
  36.8 | 
    
   
  | Can swallow liquid | 
  30 | 
  26.3 | 
    
   
  | Aphagia | 
  15 | 
  13.2 | 
    
   
  | Location of primary tumor | 
    | 
    | 
    
   
  |  Upper thoracic | 
  26 | 
  22.8 | 
    
   
  |  Middle thoracic | 
  69 | 
  60.5 | 
    
   
  |  Lower thoracic | 
  19 | 
  16.7 | 
    
   
  | Primary tumor length | 
    | 
    | 
    
   
  |  <5 cm | 
  27 | 
  23.7 | 
    
   
  |  ≥5 cm | 
  87 | 
  76.3 | 
    
   
  | Clinical Stageb | 
    | 
    | 
    
   
  |  Stage III (T4N1M0) | 
  28 | 
  24.6 | 
    
   
  |  Stage IVA | 
  86 | 
  75.4 | 
    
   
  |  (T2-3N1M1a) | 
  (35) | 
  (30.7) | 
    
   
  | (T4N1M1a) | 
  (51) | 
  (44.7) | 
    
  
   aAccording to ECOG performance status score. 
    bAccording to UICC 6th ed. |