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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which the color and composition of the cells lining your lower esophagus change, usually because of repeated exposure to stomach acid.
Barrett's esophagus is most often diagnosed in people who have long-term gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) — a chronic regurgitation of acid from the stomach into the lower esophagus. Only a small percentage of people with GERD will develop Barrett's esophagus.
A diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus can be concerning because it increases the risk of developing esophageal cancer. Although the risk of esophageal cancer is small, monitoring and treatment of Barrett's esophagus focuses on periodic exams to find precancerous esophagus cells. If precancerous cells are discovered, they can be treated to prevent esophageal cancer.
- Rich HG. Barrett's esophagus. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2009: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/145544773-3/0/1701/0.html. Accessed June 23, 2009.
- Wang KK, et al. Updated guidelines 2008 for the diagnosis, surveillance and therapy of Barrett's esophagus. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2008;103:788.
- Azodo IA, et al. Barrett's esophagus. American College of Gastroenterology. http://www.acg.gi.org/patients/gihealth/barretts.asp. Accessed June 23, 2009.
- Shaheen NJ, et al. Barrett's oesophagus. The Lancet. 2009;373:850.
- Barrett's esophagus. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddieases/pubs/barretts/index.htm. Accessed June 23, 2009.
- Crockett SD, et al. Health-related quality of life in patients with Barrett's esophagus: A systematic review. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2009;7:613.
- Waxman I, et al. Mucosal ablation of Barrett esophagus. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology. In press. http://www.nature.com/nrgastro/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nrgastro.2009.90.html. Accessed June 24, 2009.
- Sharma P, et al. Management of nondysplastic Barrett's esophagus: Where are we now? American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2009;104:805.
- HALO 360 System. Barrx Medical, Inc. http://www.barrx.com/Patients_and_Families/index.cfm/421. Accessed June 25, 2009.
- Heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux (GER), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gerd/index.htm. Accessed June 29, 2009.
