Barrett´s Esophagus
What is Barrett's Esophagus?
If acidic stomach contents flow back into the esophagus over a long period of time, this can lead to chronic damage to the cell tissue in the esophagus. These injuries can cause tissue changes in the long term, known as Barrett's esophagus. The clinical picture is considered to be the primary risk factor for esophageal cancer. Barrett's esophagus often develops particularly in patients with untreated gastroesophageal reflux disease. An endoscopic examination of the esophagus is necessary to diagnose the disease.
What are potential treatment options?
If left untreated, Barrett's esophagus can develop into esophageal cancer. To avoid this, the disease should be recognized early and treated. Depending on the stage of the cell changes, the treating gastroenterologist can resort to various treatment options. These range from check-ups, endoscopic procedures such as mucosal resection to endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).
