A case in which oesophageal webs preceded the development of carcinoma and rupture of the oesophagus in a 77-year-old woman with cicatricial pemphigoid is reported. Oesophageal webs in cicatricial pemphigoid have been reported but are rare. Clinical, histological, radiological and post-mortem features are described. Western immunoblotting of serum demonstrated a 180-kDa antigen which comprises one of the antigens reported in cicatricial pemphigoid.