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The prevalence of HPV and EBV in EAC is low compared with other viral-associated cancers, but may have been hampered by small sample sizes and detection methods susceptible to fixation processes. Additional research with adequate sample sizes and high-quality detection methods is required.

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SUMMARY Nineteen patients with symptoms of upper gastrointestinal disease were assessed by endoscopy. Transmucosal potential difference (PD) in the lower oesophagus was recorded and suction biopsy specimens were obtained from the site of measurement and examined by light microscopy after haematoxylin and eosin staining. In 10 patients with normal histology, mean PD was -14-4 mV (SEM + 0-4 mV), whereas in nine patients with histological changes of reflux mean was + 9.4 mV (SEM ± 3 0 mV). In this latter group, polarity of the PD was reversed in all but one case. Good correlation was found between these objective indices of lower oesophageal disease and the presence of symptoms such as dysphagia and heartburn. The visual appearance at endoscopy was less reliable. It is suggested that measurement of PD is a simple, rapid, and sensitive method of detecting the presence of oesophageal mucosal damage.The existence in man of an electrical potential difference between the mucosal and serosal surface of the upper gastrointestinal tract has long been recognised (Swyngedauw, 1928). It has been suggested (Geall et al., 1970) that this potential difference reflects mucosal integrity. Disruption of the gastric mucosal 'barrier' is associated with a fall in transmucosal potential difference (Davenport, 1968;Black et al., 1971