"Corkscrew oesophagus" is characterised on the basis of two case reports and 
attention is drawn to thoracic pain of oesophageal origin. Corkscrew oesophagus 
is a radiological diagnosis and is characterised by twisted segments in the 
distal third of the oesophagus. The condition can sometimes be demonstrated 
endoscopically and it is due to a basic disturbance in the motility of the 
oesophagus. Painful conditions in the oesophagus are most frequently caused by 
gastro-oesophageal reflux or disturbances in motility and the latter is 
frequently complicated by reflux oesophagitis. Pain of oesophageal origin is 
frequently a diagnosis by exclusion and requires exclusion of ischaemic heart 
disease. The initial treatment should be directed to the reflux oesophagitis. 
The diagnosis and information about the origin of the pain and the benign course 
of the condition will calm the majority of the patients and remove their fear of 
a possible fatal heart disease.