Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which the lining of the esophagus (muscular tube connecting mouth to stomach) is replaced by tissue that is similar to the lining of the intestine.
This is known as intestinal metaplasia.
This condition causes no symptoms itself, but is often found in people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and increases the risk of developing esophageal cancer in a small number of people.
About 1 percent of adults in the United States have Barrett’s esophagus. On average, patients are diagnosed with it at 50 years of age. Twice as many men as women develop Barrett’s esophagus. Caucasian men are affected more than men of other races.
GERD and Barrett’s Esophagus
What causes Barrett’s esophagus is not fully understood. However,
GERD is a risk factor for the condition.
While some people without GERD do get Barrett’s esophagus, it is 3 to 5 times likelier to occur in people who also have GERD.
Diagnosis and Testing
Barrett’s esophagus causes no symptoms. It can only be diagnosed by means of an upper endoscopy to obtain a biopsy of esophagus tissue.
An endoscope is used for the endoscopy. It is a tiny lighted camera on the end of a flexible tube that is inserted into the throat of the sedated patient. Tiny tweezers (forceps) may be used to sample esophageal tissue. This tissue will be examined later by a pathologist, to determine if the cells are abnormal.
Less than 1 percent of people diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus will develop esophageal cancer. A patient may have Barrett’s esophagus for several years before they develop esophageal adenocarcinoma.
If you have GERD or Barrett’s esophagus, your physician may advocate surveillance of your esophagus, through periodic examinations with biopsies taken to look for any early warning signs of cancer.
Usually, precancerous cells will appear in the Barrett’s tissue before esophageal cancer develops. This condition is known as dysplasia, and will be revealed through biopsies of esophageal tissue.
Early detection and treatment of dysplasia may help prevent the development of esophageal cancer.
What Treatments are Offered?
Barrett’s esophagus will not go away on its own. It must be treated through endoscopic treatments or surgery. The goal of these procedures is to remove the Barrett’s cells and dysplasia and cancer cells, encouraging normal esophageal tissue to grow back as the area heals.
There are several endoscopic therapies available for the treatment of severe dysplasia and cancer. Your doctor will consider endoscopic treatments if your health makes surgery more risky.
In some cases, the Barrett’s esophagus has caused severe dysplasia, or cancer is evident. Early surgery offers you the best chance of a cure in cases where:
The most common procedure, an esophagectomy, involves the removal of most of the esophagus, pulling a portion of the stomach up into the chest, and attaching it to the remaining esophagus.
Why Choose Northwestern Memorial?
The Thoracic Surgery Program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital offers the latest surgical procedures for benign and malignant diseases of the esophagus. Your doctor will discuss the most appropriate treatment for esophageal disease.