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Up to now many controversies exist regarding the value of different diagnostic techniques available in alkaline esophagitis. The Authors studied 92 patients with histologic diagnosis of esophagitis obtained by endoscopic biopsy, by radiological study of upper gastrointestinal tract, esophageal manometry, combined 24 hour esophago-gastric pH-metry and cholangio-scintigraphy, too. These last two techniques have the highest specificity and accuracy rates. These techniques should be considered complementary and their combined employment has to be considered essential to reach the highest rate of accuracy in the diagnosis of alkaline esophagitis.

Though long well known, reflux oesophagitis is as yet poorly understood in terms of both incidence and physiopathology. These aspects of gastrooesophageal reflux were studied in a group of patients subjected to endoscopic examination. The 13.6% incidence of the condition was very similar to the encountered incidence of ulcers. In two thirds of the cases, anamnesis is sufficient for correct diagnosis. In its more severe forms, reflux oesophagitis is associated with hiatus hernia and overindulgence in tobacco or alcohol. Routine radiology is practically or completely useless for the diagnosis of reflux oesophagitis. The use of the Savary classification system facilitates endoscopic diagnosis and staging.