Endoscopic and biopsy criteria for the diagnosis of esophagitis with a fiberoptic esophagoscope

Abstract

Endoscopic and biopsy criteria for the diagnosis of esophagitis with a fiberoptic esophagoscope were introduced and a good correlation between them was reported. Erosion and ulceration were reliable endoscopic signs of esophagitis, with histological confirmation in every case. An endoscopic finding of erythema alone was of less value. A pronounced ingrowth of the lamina propria with associated capillaries into the squamous epithelium represents esophagitis and is often associated with an erythematous mucosal change on endoscopy. It has been emphasized that this may be demonstrated even without the whole of the lamina propria in the biopsy specimen. A histological diagnosis of esophagitis was made in 90% of the patients with endoscopic esophagitis. Thus the criteria introduced here seem to be acceptable for the diagnosis of esophagitis from endoscopic biopsy specimens.