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Diagnosis and Surveillance of Barrett’s Esophagus

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Abstract

Named after the Australian-born British thoracic surgeon Norman Barrett, Barrett’s esophagus refers to the abnormal replacement of normal stratified squamous epithelium of the distal esophagus with columnar-lined intestinal epithelium. Although the majority of patients do not have symptoms, gastroesophageal reflux is associated with an increased risk of Barrett’s esophagus. The diagnosis is made endoscopically by obtaining biopsies with confirmed intestinal metaplasia, which is defined by the presence of acid mucin-containing goblet cells. Barrett’s esophagus is associated with an increased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma, and histopathology is necessary in identifying cytologic changes involved during carcinogenesis. Appropriate screening and surveillance for Barrett’s esophagus is important in preventing the progression of esophageal adenocarcinoma, which is a significant predictor for cancer survival.

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Correspondence to Oliver A. Varban .

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Varban, O.A. (2019). Diagnosis and Surveillance of Barrett’s Esophagus. In: Grams, J., Perry, K., Tavakkoli, A. (eds) The SAGES Manual of Foregut Surgery . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96122-4_27

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96122-4_27

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