Abstract: Objective : To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of radiotherapy for malignant tracheal stenosis. Methods : Eleven patients with airway stenosis caused by extratracheal tumors (lung cancer, esophageal cancer and mediasternal tumor ) underwent radiotherapy only. Results : All patients were treated by radiotherapy successfully, with relief for shortness of breath within 1-2 weeks. Eight cases died of the systemic failure and the distant metastasis of advanced tumors. There was a mean survival period of 74 days (38～110 days) in the cases. Another 3 cases remain alive at 6-20 months after radiotherapy. No symptom of dyspnea was found in the airway. Conclusion : Radiotherapy is useful for relief of respiratory distress and for improvement of life quality in patients with malignant tracheal stenosis.