[The value of cytology in the diagnosis of herpetic esophagitis. Apropos of 2 case reports].

In two patients with non-specific lesions of oesophagitis, malpighian cells infected with type I herpes simplex virus were collected by brush cytology. The cytological appearance was typical of herpes infection. Within a specimen comprising many highly necrotic areas, giant multi-nucleated malpighian cells were seen, with marginate nuclear chromatin and characteristic inclusion bodies in the nuclei. The discovery of herpes lesions in the oesophagus raises important disease questions, both from the point of view of opportunistic infection and the development of cancer.