[Diagnosis and occurrence of viral esophagitis]

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in 500 consecutive patients from medical, oncological and surgical wards showed a 1% incidence of viral esophagitis. The 5 reported cases could not be distinguished either on clinical or on endoscopic grounds from reflux esophagitis. Brush cytology served in all but one case to diagnose viral esophagitis. Identification of the virus was possible in 4 cases (3 herpes simplex, 1 cytomegaly). Viral esophagitis was mainly a complication in severe underlying disease.