The authors studied standard thoracic radiographs (PA and lateral) and esophageal X ray examination with barium in 116 patients with a squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Diagnosis of lymph node involvement was done in 21 cases. Is was only probable in 33 other cases. In 43 cases, lymph node are located near the primary tumor but in 11 cases, they are located at a certain distance from the primary lesion. These X ray, simple findings, seem to be very important for the radiotherapeutic treatment planning.