Better understanding of Barrett's esophagus

Barrett' esophagus is the result of prolonged gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) where the tissue at the lower end of the esophagus becomes chronically inflamed and changes cell type. This change in cell type or metaplasia can lead to cancer. Development of cancer is slow and usually presents as difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), and weight loss. The risk of developing Barrett's esophagus is increased by presence of a hiatus hernia, and poor lower esophageal sphincter tone, which is influenced by overconsumption of coffee, alcohol and other stomach irritants. Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer is diagnosed by gastroscopy, where the esophagus is visualised using a long camera and samples (biopsies) of the tissue can also be taken. Scientists are currently using their knowledge to identify those people at most risk of Barrett's esophagus and provide therapy early on to prevent it from evolving into cancer.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by Medscape

Related Disease Topics:

• Barrett's esophagus
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Esophageal cancer
• Hiatus hernia

Related Symptom Topics:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Dysphagia
• Weight loss

Article Source Details

About: Better understanding of Barrett's esophagus

Date: 31 May 2005

Source: Medscape

Author: Prateek Sharma

URL: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/505147

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Diagnosis and Barrett's esophagus
• Diagnosis and esophageal reflux
• Diagnosis and gastroscopy
• Diagnosis and difficulty swallowing
• Diagnosis and weight loss
• Diagnosis and hiatus hernia
• Diagnosis and esophageal cancer
• Diagnosis and esophageal biopsy
• Diagnosis and poor lower esophageal sphincter tone
• Cause of Barrett's esophagus
• Cause of difficulty swallowing
• Cause of weight loss
• Cause of hiatus hernia
• Cause of esophageal cancer
• Cause of poor lower esophageal sphincter tone
• Cause of metaplasia
• Cause of esophageal metaplasia
• Cause of esophageal dysplasia
• Cause of esophageal reflux
• Risk and esophageal reflux
• Risk and Barrett's esophagus
• Risk and esophageal cancer
• Research and Barrett's esophagus
• Research and esophageal reflux
• Research and gastroscopy
• Research and difficulty swallowing
• Research and weight loss
• Research and hiatus hernia
• Research and esophageal cancer
• Research and esophageal biopsy
• Research and poor lower esophageal sphincter tone
• Research and esophageal reflux

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