Cytologic diagnosis of herpetic esophagitis. A case report.

A diagnosis of herpetic esophagitis was made in a patient with alcoholic liver disease by means of endoscopy and brush cytology. Herpetic esophagitis is a common cause of esophageal ulceration in severely debilitated or immunosuppressed patients especially when the esophagus is traumatized by nasogastric intubation. Dysphagia or odynophagia may occur in some but not all patients. Radiographic picture may resemble Candida esophagitis. Endoscopy, biopsy, cytology, culture and serological studies will help in making a diagnosis. Specific antiviral agents may be used for treatment but spontaneous resolution without any sequelae was documented in our patient.