Barrett's Esophagus
Overview
Risk Factors
This problem is more common in men, people who are White, and people 50 years of age and older. Other things that may raise the risk are:
- A history of heartburn or GERD
- Obesity , especially around the midsection
- Current or history of smoking
- Having other family members with this problem
- A history of hiatal hernia
SymptomsandDiagnosis
Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. The doctor may want to test for Barrett esophagus if you have a history of heartburn or GERD.
The area will need to be viewed. This can be done with:
- Upper GI endoscopy—a scope with a camera is passed down the throat to view the area
- Biopsy—a sample of tissue is removed and examined in a lab to look for signs of cell changes
Treatments
Treatment
The cells that have already been damaged cannot be changed. The goal of treatment is to stop the disease from damaging more cells. Choices are:
- Monitoring the problem to look for changes
- Medicine to prevent stomach acid from damaging the esophagus, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
- Surgery to remove:
- Unhealthy cells using laser light or radiowaves
- Part of the esophagus
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
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RESOURCES
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases https://www.niddk.nih.gov
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons https://www.sts.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES
GI Society—Canadian Society of Intestinal Research https://www.badgut.com
Health Canada https://www.canada.ca
References
Barrett esophagus. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/barrett-esophagus. Accessed November 24, 2020.
Barrett's esophagus. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/barretts-esophagus. Accessed November 24, 2020.
Shaheen NJ, Falk GW, et al. ACG Clinical Guideline: Diagnosis and Management of Barrett's Esophagus. Am J Gastroenterol. 2016 Jan;111(1):30-50.
11/30/2015 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance https://www.dynamed.com/condition/barrett-esophagus: Shaheen NJ, Falk GW, Iyer PG, Gerson LB. ACG clinical guideline: diagnosis and management of Barrett's esophagus. Am J Gastroenterol. 2016;111(1):30-50.