The esophagus is a tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Barrett esophagus is a condition that results in a change in the cells in the lower part of this tube.
The exact cause is not known. In some people, it may be caused by a backup of stomach acid into the tube. This is also known gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Gastroesophageal RefluxCopyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. |
This problem is more common in men, people who are White, and people aged 50 and older. Other things that may raise the risk are:
Barrett esophagus does not cause symptoms. People with it often have symptoms of stomach acid reflux, such as:
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. The doctor may want to test for Barrett esophagus if you have a history of heartburn or GERD.
The area will need to be viewed. This can be done with:
The cells that have already been damaged cannot be changed. The goal of treatment is to stop the disease from damaging more cells. Choices are:
To lower the risk of this health problem:
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
https://www.niddk.nih.gov
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
https://www.sts.org
GI Society—Canadian Society of Intestinal Research
https://www.badgut.com
Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca
Barrett esophagus. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/barrett-esophagus. Accessed November 24, 2020.
Barrett's esophagus. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/barretts-esophagus. Accessed November 24, 2020.
Shaheen NJ, Falk GW, et al. ACG Clinical Guideline: Diagnosis and Management of Barrett's Esophagus. Am J Gastroenterol. 2016 Jan;111(1):30-50.
11/30/2015 DynaMed Systematic Literature Surveillance https://www.dynamed.com/condition/barrett-esophagus: Shaheen NJ, Falk GW, et al. ACG clinical guideline: diagnosis and management of Barrett's esophagus. Am J Gastroenterol. 2016;111(1):30-50.
Last reviewed September 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Marcin Chwistek, MD