Abstract： Objective To evaluate the value of postoperative prophylactic radiotherapy for N0 e-sophageal squamous carcinoma. Methods From January 1993 to December 2006,859 patients with patho-logically staged N0 and M0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were included in this study. Among them, 760 received surgery alone, and 99 received surgery followed by postoperative radiotherapy. Radiotherapy started within 3 to 4 weeks after surgery. The median total dose was 50 Gy(2 Gy/F,5 F/w). Results In surgery alone group and postoperative radiotherapy group,the 5-yeur overall survival rotes were 72.2% vs 77.4% (X2 =0. 13,P >0.05) for all patients,34.6% vs67.1% (X2 =7.72,P <0.05) forpT4 disease,and 70.2% vs 81.3% (X2 =4.01 ,P <0.05) for tumor length >5 cm. Postoperative radiotherapy could lower the recurrence rate for pT4 patients. Conclusions For patients with NO esophageal squamous carcinoma, postoperative radiotherapy can significantly improve the survival for pT4 and tumor length > 5 cm,and also re-duce the recurrence for pT4 patients.