Value of PET-CT in Radiation Treatment Planning for Patients With Esophageal Cancer

The RESPECT study is intended to prospectively assess the impact of PET/CT on the delineation of target volumes and to estimate the proportion of recurrences that could possibly be prevented by the use of PET/CT-based target volume, instead of CT-based. Patients will recieve radiotherapy using CT-based planning, but a PET/CT-based treatment plan will also be made. CT-based and PET/CT-based target volumes will be compared after treatment has been completed. If a locoregional recurrence takes place, the localisation will be compared to the CT-based and PET/CT based clinical target volumes (CTVs). If the local recurrence is located outside the CT-CTV but inside the PET/CT-CTV, the recurrence could possibly have been prevented with PET/CT-based radiotherapy.