Candida esophagitis is characterized by erosion; a pseudomembrane composed of degenerated squamous epithelial cells, neutrophils, fungal yeasts, and pseudohyphae; and invasion of intact squamous epithelium by fungal pseudohyphae.
No eosinophils are seen in the present case.
Although there is partial necrosis of the squamous epithelium, the fungal organisms are extracellular.
No bacteria are seen in the present case.
Although C. albicans is the most common species of Candida to cause esophagitis, other Candida species, such as Candida parapsilosis and Candida glabrata, may also be causal and are morphologically identical.
