Adequacy of esophageal squamous mucosa specimens obtained during endoscopy: are standard biopsies sufficient for postablation surveillance in Barrett's esophagus?

Background: After endoscopic eradication therapy (EET) for Barrett's esophagus (BE), surveillance of residual/recurrent intestinal metaplasia/dysplasia including subsquamous tissue is performed by using biopsy forceps.

Objective: The goal of this study was to compare the adequacy of biopsy specimens obtained from neo-squamous (post-EET patients) and native (non-BE patients) squamous mucosa.

Design: A case-control study using squamous biopsy specimens obtained at 2 tertiary referral centers was conducted.

Interventions: Two experienced GI pathologists reviewed specimens from patients with neo- (post-EET patients) and native (non-BE patients) squamous mucosa in a blinded fashion after developing standardized criteria to assess tissue depth.

Main outcome measurements: The primary outcome was the proportion of biopsy specimens that contained any amount of lamina propria.

Results: A total of 193 biopsy specimens (1692 tissue pieces) from 104 patients were reviewed: 163 neo- and 30 native squamous. Of all biopsy specimens, only 37% contained any amount of lamina propria, and, furthermore, fewer than 4% of specimens had sufficient lamina propria (ie, more than two thirds of the entire squamous tissue present). When examining individual squamous tissue pieces, fewer than 11% contained lamina propria. No statistically significant differences in the presence of lamina propria were detected between neo- and native squamous mucosa.

Conclusion: The majority of esophageal squamous biopsy specimens obtained during endoscopy do not demonstrate lamina propria and subepithelial structures. This is true for both neo- and native squamous mucosa. Biopsy specimens of neo-squamous mucosa obtained after EET appear to be inadequate to exclude subsquamous intestinal metaplasia/dysplasia because lamina propria is not present in more than 60% of specimens. This has larger implications in the clinical management of BE patients after EET.