The invention provides an oesophagoscope comprising a hollow tube of a length at least equal to the length of a patient's oesophagus, the tube having a distal portion which is flexible and a proximal portion which is inflexible, wherein the flexibility of the distal portion is variable. The flexibility may be varied by means of an elongate member attached to a distal portion of the oesophagoscope and operated from a proximal portion thereof. The oesophagoscope may further comprise dilating means adapted to cause the distal end of the distal portion to dilate thereby the oesophagus of a patient. The invention extends to a stiffening device and a dilating device for use in upgrading existing oesophagoscopes.
