DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Biopsy-proven primary squamous cell or adenocarcinoma of the esophagus Clinical Stage T1-4, Nx, M0 disease required Disease entirely confined to the esophagus and periesophageal soft tissue with no tumor extension within 2 cm proximal to the stomach No biopsy-proven invasion of the tracheal-bronchial tree or tracheal-esophageal (TE) fistula Bronchoscopy of tracheal-bronchial tree required for lesions less than 30 cm from the incisors to exclude TE fistula Negative liver biopsy required if liver CT suggestive of metastatic disease Negative biopsy required for enlarged (1.5 cm or greater) retroperitoneal or celiac nodes seen on CT Negative biopsy of clinically or radiographically positive supraclavicular nodes required with cervical primaries No recurrent disease No multiple carcinomas of the esophagus