Verrucous carcinoma of the esophagus is a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma associated with human papillomavirus. We report the case of a 58-year-old female who presented with ongoing symptoms of dysphagia. On previous endoscopies she had been noted to have a large polyp-like mass involving the esophagus, with negative biopsies for malignancy. Repeat endoscopy with concurrent endoscopic ultrasound showed a large semi-pedunculated polyp in the distal esophagus and a hypoechoic, irregular mass involving the gastroesophageal junction with esophageal thickening. Deep layer biopsies showed pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia with immunohistochemical staining positive for human papillomavirus. The patient was subsequently treated with chemo-radiation followed by esophagectomy.

The conductivity induced in polyethylene and Teflon by bombardment with x-rays from a 2-Mev Van de Graaff and gamma rays from Co60 has been investigated as a function of time, temperature, geometry, exposure rate, and applied electric field. Within the range of the variables studied, the observed photocurrents were directly proportional to the exposure rate and the applied electric field. The photocurrent could be divided into three components, the current due to the action of monodirectional photons, the increase in this current due to the influence of the electric field, and a component of less than 10% made up of all other possible charge carriers. During irradiation, the conductivity increased by a factor of about 103. Between 78°K and 273°K the photocurrent was nearly independent of temperature. In general, the conductivity of Teflon was greater than that of polyethylene.

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