The ideal time interval for esophagectomy after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for patients with esophageal cancer is unknown, but in most centers, the operation is usually performed 4 to 8 weeks after CRT when the patient has fully recovered. A similar time interval between CRT and operation has traditionally been accepted for patients with rectal cancer; however, recent studies1,2 have suggested that a longer wait may increase the rate of pathologic complete responses (pCRs) and may improve survival.