BARRETT’S ESOPHAGUS: Risk factors, Diagnosis & Treatment

 

Introduction

Barrett’s esophagus is a pre-malignant condition, complication of long standing reflux disease. In Barrett’s esophagus the normal squamous epithelium of the lower esophagus undergoes histologic changes and replaced by columnar epithelium.

Found in 10% of patients undergoing gastroscopy for reflux symptoms.

Risk Factors

More common in men (especially white),

The obese and those over 50 years of age.

It is weakly associated with smoking but not alcohol intake.

Diagnosis

Complaints of long standing reflux disease along with weight loss, anemia and dysphagia requires Endoscopy for the diagnosis of Barrett’s esophagus.

Once diagnosed need to repeat endoscopy every 2-3 years.

If a patient develops low-grade Dysplasia, repeat endoscopy in 6-12 months.

Low-grade dysplasia may regress back to Barrett’s esophagus, but if not and progresses to high-grade dysplasia, distal esophagectomy ( a surgery to remove distal part of esophagus) is done, to prevent the transformation of Barrett's esophagus to adenocarcinoma of esophagus.

Treatment

Patients with Barrett’s esophagus are kept on Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)

Have a great and healthy life ahead