Esophageal tissue culture

A sample biopsy of esophageal tissue is obtained by placing a tube through the mouth into the esophagus where small instruments grab a portion of esophageal tissue for examination. The test is performed when infection or other diseases of the esophagus are suspected, or an ongoing infection does not respond to treatment.

Review Date: 11/15/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.