Herpes oesophagitis. II. Electron microscopical findings.

Ultra-thin sections obtained from routine biopsy specimens and cytological smears of 3 cases, together with one autopsy case suggestive of herpes oesophagitis, clearly demonstrate herpes viruses. The infected epithelial cells reveal different stages of virus replication and propagation. Cowdry A type inclusion bodies, however, representing early alterations in the course of infection are less frequent. Ground-glass looking nuclei of light microscopical balloon cells and infected multinuclear giant cells of epithelial origin are characteristic changes of the late ulcerative stage of herpes oesophagitis usually seen at the time of detection. These typical virus induced cell changes are mostly to be found at the ulcers edge.