CASE REPORTS   

Minerva Gastroenterologica e Dietologica 2008 September;54(3):317-21

Copyright © 2008 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

A case of infectious esophagitis caused by human papilloma virus

Quarto G. ¹, Sivero L. ², Somma P. ³, De Rosa G. ⁴, Mosella F. ¹, Nunziata G. ¹, Solimeno G. ¹, Benassai G. ¹

¹ Department of General Oncological and Videoassisted Surgery Federico II University, Naples, Italy 2 Center for Diagnostic and Operative Digestive Endoscopy Federico II University, Naples, Italy 3 Pathology Section, D. Cotugno Hospital Naples, Italy 4 Department of Pathology Federico II University, Naples, Italy

Esophageal infections may be caused by diverse pathogens that alter the mucosal lining and produce mild symptoms or sometimes critical clinical diseases with a high risk of mortality, particularly among the immunocompromised. The most common causes of infectious esophagitis are: herpes virus, candida, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); human papilloma virus (HPV) infections are rare in Western countries. Endoscopic features of infectious esophagitis are specific for different agents; nonetheless, differential diagnosis is difficult and requires biopsy, cul-tures and brushing. We present the clinical case of a young woman admitted to the Department of General Surgery of A.O.U. Federico II, Naples, for a large, deep ulcerative lesion of the esophagus caused by HPV infection.