[Barrett's esophagus]

Rev Med Univ Navarra. 1998 Jul-Sep;42(3):145-55.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Barrett's esophagus (BE), a complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease, is the replacement of squamous tissue with specialized intestinal metaplasia. Other noxious factor, as biliary acids, may contribute to the induction of BE. It is a premalignant condition, and adenocarcinoma arises in some cases. An endoscopic surveillance with multiple biopsies is mandatory to detect different grades of dysplasia or intramucosal cancer and allow effective therapy. Since its prevalence is high, current surveillance protocols become expensive and patient's compliance is difficult. The main medical goals are: 1) To stratify individuals without dysplasia as either lower or higher risk, to screen less often those at lower risk. 2) To obtain complete remission or eliminate the risk of cancer and the need for surveillance. Current treatments have not demonstrate complete regression of metaplasia. Recently, new endoscopic approaches to therapy have been developed. Although they remain experimental and larger series are required, initial results are encouraging.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis
  • Adenocarcinoma / epidemiology
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma / prevention & control
  • Aged
  • Barrett Esophagus* / diagnosis
  • Barrett Esophagus* / epidemiology
  • Barrett Esophagus* / etiology
  • Barrett Esophagus* / pathology
  • Barrett Esophagus* / therapy
  • Biopsy
  • Disease Progression
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Esophagectomy
  • Esophagoscopy
  • Female
  • Fundoplication
  • Gastric Emptying
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux / complications
  • Histamine H2 Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Laser Coagulation
  • Male
  • Metaplasia
  • Middle Aged
  • Photochemotherapy
  • Precancerous Conditions / diagnosis
  • Precancerous Conditions / epidemiology
  • Precancerous Conditions / etiology
  • Precancerous Conditions / pathology
  • Precancerous Conditions / therapy
  • Prevalence

Substances

  • Histamine H2 Antagonists