Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which the tissue lining the esophagus is replaced by tissue that is similar to the lining of the intestine. This process is called intestinal metaplasia. It is commonly seen in people with gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) which occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter opens spontaneously for varying periods of time or does not close properly and the stomach contents rise into the esophagus. It is also called acid reflux. Persistent reflux that occurs more than twice a week is considered GERD.
People with Barrett's esophagus have a risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma. It may be several years before cancer develops. Barrett's esophagus can only be diagnosed using an upper GI endoscopy to obtain biopsies of the esophagus.Several endoscopic therapies are available to treat severe dysplasia and cancer.During these therapies, the Barrett's lining is destroyed(Photodynamic therapy) or the portion of the lining that has the dysplasia or cancer is cut out(Endoscopic mucosal resection).
Your surgeon will present the options and help determine the best course of treatment for u.Periodic endoscopic examinations with biopsies to look for early warning signs of cancer is recommended for people who have barrett's esophagus.This is called surveillance.Typically, before esophageal cancer develops, precancerous cells appear in the Barrett's tissue.This condition is called dysplasia and can be seen only through biopsies.Multiple biopsies may be needed because dysplasia can be missed in a single biopsy.Detecting and treating dysplasia may prevent cancer from developing.Surgical treatment is recommended if a person has severe dysplasia and can tolerate the procedure.many patients with this condition are older and may have other medical problems that make surgery unwise. The type of surgery varies, but it usually involves removing most of the esophagus, pulling a portion of the stomach and attaching it to what remains of the foodpipe.