Endoscopic Screening for Barrett ’s Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Barrett ’s esophagus (BE) is the only known precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), a cancer with increasing incidence and poor survival. Risk of EAC in patients with BE is higher compared with the general population. Endoscopic screening for BE is performed to identify patients earlier in the metap lasia-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence from BE to EAC to enable eradication therapy. BE screening should be considered in individuals with multiple risk factors for BE and EAC. Challenges to BE screening include the absence of a cost-effective, widely applicable minimally invasive screening tool, gastro esophageal reflux disease centric screening recommendations, and limitations of current endoscopic surveillance practice.
Source: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Clinics of North America - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Source Type: research