[Esophageal papilloma--potential precursor of squamous cell carcinoma?]

Endoscopies for various indications revealed a total of 15 papillomas of the oesophagus in 12 patients over a period of 9 months. In most cases they were small whitish prominences in the cervical and thoracic oesophagus. Except for one case only females between 46 and 76 years were affected. Thus papillomas of the oesophagus are more frequent than previously assumed. Virology and histology indicate a potential role of the papilloma as precursor of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Papillomas should thus be excised by loop or forceps.