Endoscopic Management of Barrett’s Esophagus and Early Esophageal Neoplasia

Abstract

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is common in North America, affecting around 25% of the population. A small fraction of these patients develop Barrett esophagus and thus are at a risk of developing esophageal cancer. The progression of Barrett esophagus to esophageal cancer can be prevented with timely examinations and, when necessary, by performing treatments to eradicate it. This review describes the use of endoscopy techniques to diagnose and classify Barrett esophagus among high-risk patients and the use of ablative techniques in patients with dysplasia. The review also describes endoscopic resection techniques for early esophageal cancer, which can provide staging information as well as can be therapeutic in selected cases. This review contains 8 figures and 49 references. Key Words: acid reflux, Barrett esophagus, cryoablation, endoscopic mucosal resection, endoscopic submucosal dissection, esophageal cancer, esophagus ablation, GERD, radiofrequency ablation