• Barrett's esophagus (BE or Barrett's
syndrome) is a disease in which there is an abnormal change (metaplasia) in the
cells of the lower esophagus.
• It is believed to be caused by
prolonged exposure to acidic contents from the stomach (reflux esophagitis).
Barrett's esophagus is found in about 10% of patients seeking medical treatment
for gastroesophageal reflux disease.
• Barrett's esophagus is clinically
relevant because it is considered a premalignant lesion that can progress to
dysplasia and esophageal cancer type adenocarcinoma. It is estimated that the
incidence of adenocarcinoma in Barrett's esophagus patients varies from 1:146 /
year, 1:180, 1:184 or 1:222, depending on the source. The risk varies from 0.2
to 2.1% in patients without dysplasia year, which poses a risk of incidence of
esophageal cancer 30-125 times higher than the general population.
• Due to the potential risk of turning
into a malignant lesion, the disease requires periodic monitoring by endoscopy.
• The disease is named in honor of Dr.
Norman Barrett (1903-1979), Australian surgeon at the Hospital of St Thomas in
the UK who described the disease for the first time in 1957.
Signs
and symptoms
The symptoms of patients with
Barrett's esophagus are generally the same as those of patients with
uncomplicated gastroesophageal reflux. Can also be identified in patients with
atypical symptoms and dyspeptic. The clinical diagnosis suggests that most,
according to Cameron et al. History is long lasting and reflux episodes of
heartburn (heartburn) nocturnal generally above 5 years.
Treatment
Currently there are no medications
that cause Barrett's esophagus regress. However, current treatments that seek
to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease, slow the progression of the disease
and prevent its potential complications, such as esophageal cancer.
In addition, monitoring should be
performed for understanding the progression of the disease.
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