Barrett’s esophagus

Barrett’s Esophagus
By Ijeoma A. Azodo1 and Yvonne Romero, M.D.2,3
1University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine; 2,3Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology,
2,3 Department of Epidemiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
What is Barrett’s Esophagus?

In order to understand Barrett’s esophagus it is useful to understand the normal appearance of the
esophagus. In the normal esophagus, the tissue lining appears pale pink and smooth. These flat square
cells, called “squamous” (Latin for square) cells, make up the normal lining of the esophagus. See
cartoons 1 and 2.
Normal Stratified Squamous
In contrast, Barrett’s esophagus is a salmon-colored lining in the esophagus see cartoon 3), made up of cells that are similar to cells found in the small intestine and are called “specialized intestinal metaplasia”. Cartoon The American College of Gastroenterology 6400 Goldsboro Rd., Suite 450, Bethesda, MD 20817 P: 301-263-9000 F: 301-263-9025 Internet: www.acg.gi.org Figure 1 shows what Barrett’s esophagus looks like at endoscopy (a small flexible scope with a camera in its tip). Barrett’s Esophagus
2004 by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
The reason Barrett’s esophagus is important is because people who have it have a small increased risk of
developing esophageal cancer. Barrett’s esophagus and heartburn symptoms are associated with a
specific type of esophageal cancer called “esophageal adenocarcinoma.”
How Common is Barrett’s Esophagus?

Barrett’s esophagus is more commonly seen in people who have frequent, persistent heartburn or
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD symptoms include heartburn (burning under your
breast bone) that may wake you up at night, occur after meals or in between, and may temporarily
improve with antacids. Acid regurgitation, or the experience of sour or bitter tasting fluid coming back
up into your mouth, is also a GERD symptom. Some people do not have any of these symptoms and are
still at risk of developing Barrett’s esophagus.

What are the Risk Factors for Barrett’s Esophagus?

Age, male sex, Caucasian ethnicity and GERD symptoms of longer than 10 years duration are risk
factors for Barrett’s esophagus. GERD, tobacco smoking, and obesity are risk factors for developing
esophageal carcinoma. Tobacco use (especially chewing tobacco) and drinking alcohol are much
stronger risk factors for a different type of cancer, squamous cell cancer of the esophagus. Tobacco
slightly increases a person’s chance of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma, but this risk is increased
when the person already has Barrett’s esophagus.
Most people with Barrett’s esophagus are in their 60’s at the time of diagnosis. It is thought that most
people who are diagnosed with Barrett’s have had it for 10 to 20 years before diagnosis.
Males are 3 to 4 times more likely to have Barrett’s esophagus compared to females. Caucasians are
about 10 times more likely to have Barrett’s esophagus than persons of African American ethnic
background.
The American College of Gastroenterology 6400 Goldsboro Rd., Suite 450, Bethesda, MD 20817 P: 301-263-9000 F: 301-263-9025 Internet: www.acg.gi.org Although people who experience weekly heartburn or acid regurgitation are 64 times more likely to get
esophageal adenocarcinoma than people who have never experienced these symptoms, 40% of people
with esophageal adenocarcinoma deny ever experiencing GERD symptoms. Why these people
developed esophageal adenocarcinoma remains a mystery.
What is the Risk of Getting Esophageal Cancer?

We now know that patients with Barrett’s esophagus have a low risk of esophageal cancer. A person
with Barrett’s esophagus has a 1 in 200 chance per year of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma.
What does this really mean? A person with Barrett’s esophagus at age 50, who, statistically should live
to be 80, has about a 15% or one in seven lifetime chance of developing adenocarcinoma of the
esophagus. About 90% of people with Barrett’s esophagus WILL NOT develop cancer. How do we tell
who is at risk? See “Management of Barrett’s esophagus” below.
What are the Treatment Options for Barrett’s Esophagus?

Generally, doctors treat the symptoms of GERD, not Barrett’s esophagus, specifically. Barrett’s is an
acquired disorder, meaning it develops over time and is not present at birth. It is usually diagnosed
around age 60, although we estimate that half of people with Barrett’s esophagus have it by age 40.
Treatment for GERD symptoms are listed in the GERD section of this web page and elsewhere on the
ACG Web Book for patients. Generally this will include antacids, histamine receptor antagonists and
proton pump inhibitors. Surgery is also an option. The large majority of patients with Barrett’s
esophagus will be treated with a proton pump inhibitor.
The proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) include: esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid),
omeprazole (Prilosec), pantoprazole (Protonix), rabeprazole (Aciphex) and omeprazole powder
(Zegerid). With regard to the optimal way to take a proton pump inhibitor, you should take your
medication half an hour before a meal. Most other pills can be taken along with PPI’s, except for
antacids, carafate, and questran. Antacids, Carafate® and Questran® bind almost everything they come
in contact with, so, if you are on these medicines, you should not be taking them at the same time as
other medicines in the first place!
PPIs work by turning off the cellular pumps in your stomach that make acid. Eating food 20 to 60
minutes after taking your pill on an empty stomach activates millions of these acid pumps which are
then turned off by the medication. This is the key for optimal dosing of a PPI.
When Should You See a Doctor about Barrett’s Esophagus?

You should see a doctor if you have the risk factors listed earlier (male sex, age 50 or over, Caucasian
ethnic group, GERD symptoms of longer than 10 years duration). If you have alarm symptoms such as
trouble swallowing, losing weight without trying, blood in your stool, persistent symptoms despite
medical therapy, or new chest pain, you should discuss your symptoms with your doctor and have an
endoscopic examination.
The American College of Gastroenterology 6400 Goldsboro Rd., Suite 450, Bethesda, MD 20817 P: 301-263-9000 F: 301-263-9025 Internet: www.acg.gi.org What Type of Tests are Needed to Evaluate Barrett’s Esophagus?

Endoscopy is the test of choice for Barrett’s esophagus. At endoscopy, biopsies can be taken; meaning
small pieces of tissue can be collected to look at under the microscope. In Barrett’s, tissue is the issue.
Tissue, showing intestinal metaplasia with goblet cells, is necessary to make the diagnosis of Barrett’s
esophagus, and is one of the keys to management of Barrett’s.
An upper GI barium study is helpful in finding strictures (areas of narrowing), usually causing trouble
swallowing. Barium studies are not useful for diagnosing Barrett’s esophagus, because it is a
microscopic diagnosis.
Management of Barrett’s esophagus

At endoscopy, your doctor will get multiple biopsies every 1 to 2-cm (one half to one inch) along the
length of your Barrett’s esophagus segment. How the biopsies look on a microscope slide influences
your management.
The key to the management of Barrett’s esophagus is the level of dysplasia that the biopsies show.
“Dysplasia” is the Greek word for “change”; a reflection of how disordered and disorganized the cells
are.
All of our cells are programmed to die. We are constantly making new cells while old cells slough off.
For example, dandruff is old dead scalp cells that have dried up and flaked off. Just like your skin on
the outside of your body, the lining of the esophagus is skin on the inside of your body. Cells keep their
DNA in their nucleus. Cancer is DNA that has lost control causing cells to forget how to die. In cancer,
cells grow and grow without dying.
When cells are changing from normal to cancer, they go through steps called dysplasia.
No Dysplasia
If a diagnosis of Barrett’s esophagus is made, ideally there should be NO dysplasia. See Cartoon 4 and
Figure 2.
Cartoon 4
No Dysplasia
No Dysplasia
2004 by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
The American College of Gastroenterology 6400 Goldsboro Rd., Suite 450, Bethesda, MD 20817 P: 301-263-9000 F: 301-263-9025 Internet: www.acg.gi.org In biopsies with no dysplasia, the nuclei are small, organized and located at the base (bottom) of the Barrett’s cell. Most people with Barrett’s esophagus will need to undergo future endoscopies to assure there is no progression of the condition. When the next endoscopy occurs is usually based on recommendations by groups of experts whose opinion is endorsed The American College of Gastroenterology. Follow up endoscopy for Barrett’s without dysplasia is usually recommended at 3 years, but your doctor will help decide what is most appropriate for you. Low Grade Dysplasia If biopsies are found to have low-grade dysplasia, where the nuclei are still small but somewhat disorganized, your doctor will recommend you undergo a repeat endoscopy in about 6 months. See Cartoon 5 and Figure 3. Low-Grade Dysplasia
Low Grade Dysplasia
2004 by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. If the six-month endoscopy with multiple biopsies shows low grade dysplasia, The American College of Gastroenterology recommends that patients undergo annual endoscopy until there is no dysplasia. The American College of Gastroenterology 6400 Goldsboro Rd., Suite 450, Bethesda, MD 20817 P: 301-263-9000 F: 301-263-9025 Internet: www.acg.gi.org High Grade Dysplasia High-grade dysplasia (Cartoon 7, Figure 5) is thought to be the stage that occurs before esophageal cancer. However high-grade dysplasia can regress to low-grade dysplasia. If diagnosed with high-grade dysplasia the biopsies should be examined again by a pathologist who specializes in diseases of the esophagus. Pathologists are physicians that are experts at examining tissue on microscope slides. High-Grade Dysplasia
High Grade Dysplasia
2004 by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. If a diagnosis of high-grade dysplasia is confirmed, there are 4 management options: Esophagectomy. This is a major surgery where a surgeon removes the esophagus and hooks up the stomach to the very top of the remaining swallowing tube. It has been shown that experienced esophagus surgeons that do the most esophageal surgery have the best outcomes and lowest death rates. Surgery is the standard-of-care. Increase your acid suppression medications, and have another endoscopic examination in 3 months. This time, your doctor will get more biopsies, 4 every single centimeter (half inch) along the length of the Barrett’s segment. If you have a nodule or bump inside the Barrett’s segment, your doctor may recommend having an “Endoscopic Mucosal Resection” to shave off that bump and make sure it is not cancer. You may also undergo an endoscopy with ultrasound to look for deeper extension of the bump or lymph nodes. Photodynamic Therapy and other ablative techniques. These are currently considered research and experimental but, for very specific patients, may be an excellent option. There are specific doctors that have expertise in these treatments. If you are interested, you should find the expert in your area, and consider being enrolled in a study, to have this done. ic therapy, you get an injection in your vein of a medicine that deposits in the skin (inside – in the esophagus, and outside – on the part that sees the sun). Then, during endoscopy, a laser beam light is shined in your esophagus. The light causes the chemical to kill the cells of your esophagus lining, and you pass them from below in a bowel movement. The complications of this procedure include formation of esophageal strictures, and sun-sensitivity that may limit your ability to spend time in the outdoors for about 6 weeks. The benefit of this type of procedure, if it worked, would be avoidance of surgery. The American College of Gastroenterology 6400 Goldsboro Rd., Suite 450, Bethesda, MD 20817 P: 301-263-9000 F: 301-263-9025 Internet: www.acg.gi.org Do nothing. Although high-grade dysplasia can regre ss to low-grade dysplasia, if this option is chosen esophageal cancer may develop and can progress rapidly.
Barrett’s esophagus is best managed by doctors with an interest in this disease including
gastroenterologists, esophagus surgeons and gastroenterology pathologists.
For More Information

If you would like to obtain more information about Barrett’s esophagus or esophagus cancer please visit
these Web sites:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/findinformation/diseasesandconditions/invoke.cfm?id=HQ00312&si=1017
http://www.fhcrc.org/phs/barretts/
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/pubs/barretts/barretts.htm
The American College of Gastroenterology 6400 Goldsboro Rd., Suite 450, Bethesda, MD 20817 P: 301-263-9000 F: 301-263-9025 Internet: www.acg.gi.org

Source: http://www.gastrori.com/documents/disease/barretts.pdf