Most people will on occasion experience heartburn. It isn't a pleasant feeling, but soon passes and happens only once in a while. Some people, however, are frequent sufferers of acid reflux.
Most people will on occasion experience heartburn. It isn't a pleasant feeling, but soon passes and happens only once in a while. Some people, however, are frequent sufferers of acid reflux. These people suffer weekly or even daily with the uncomfortable symptoms of acid reflux. When left untreated, acid reflux can become a serious condition often damaging the lining of the esophagus. In about 10% of the cases the lining of the esophagus becomes so damaged that it changes to resemble the lining of the stomach. This condition is called Barrett's esophagus. It is considered a precursor to esophageal cancer and often goes on to become cancer. Although most people do not develop this disease, the number of people with it is on the increase.
How Do You Recognize Barrett's?
Interestingly, Barrett's does not have any real symptoms of its own. Acid reflux can cause uncomfortable burning sensations, sore throat, regurgitation of food, and hoarseness of the voice. Barrett's has no significant symptoms to add to the list. Many people are not aware that they even have it. People with Barrett's esophagus have an increased risk for esophageal cancer. If Barrett's esophagus has progressed to cancer of the esophagus, the symptoms can include difficulty swallowing or weight loss. Still, only a small number of people with Barrett's esophagus develop cancer. It can be detected and diagnosed with the used of endoscopy and a possible biopsy.
Who Gets the Disease?
Barrett's is more common in men, especially Caucasian men over fifty. It also tends to affect those who have suffered with acid reflux for a long time or who began experiencing acid reflux at a very young age. Treatment should improve acid reflux symptoms and may keep Barrett's esophagus from getting worse. None of these treatments will reverse the changes that may lead to cancer.
If you are experiencing acid reflux on a regular basis, it is highly recommended that you seek the advice of your physician. There are a number of medical and non-medical treatments that can be done to reduce acid reflux symptoms. These treatments not only make life more comfortable, but also protect against further damage to your esophagus. Patients with Barrett's esophagus typically need prescription medication to suppress the production of stomach acid, such as generic Aciphex.
Barrett esophagus, sometimes called Barrett syndrome or columnar epithelium lined lower oesophagus (CELLO), refers to an abnormal change (metaplasia) in the cells of the inferior portion of the esophagus. A positive diagnosis generally requires observing specific macroscopic and microscopic changes. The normal squamous epithelium lining of the esophagus is replaced by metaplastic columnar and goblet cells. Columnar epithelium refers to a cell type that is typically found in more distal parts of the gastrointestinal system. Only the presence of goblet cells equates a diagnosis of Barrett esophagus. The medical significance of Barrett esophagus is its strong association with esophageal adenocarcinoma, a particularly lethal cancer.
The main cause of Barrett esophagus is thought to be an adaptation to chronic acid exposure from reflux esophagitis. In the last 4 years, the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma has been increasing in the Western world. Barrett esophagus is found in 5–15% of patients who seek medical care for heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD), although a large subgroup of patients with Barrett esophagus do not have symptoms. It is considered to be a premalignant condition because it is associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer (more specifically, adenocarcinoma) of about 0.5% per patient-year. If the cancer develops, it is very often deadly. Diagnosis of Barrett esophagus requires endoscopy (more specifically, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, a procedure in which a fibre optic cable is inserted through the mouth to examine the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum) and biopsy. The cells of Barrett esophagus, after biopsy, are classified into four general categories: non-dysplastic, low-grade dysplasia, high-grade dysplasia, and frank carcinoma. High-grade dysplasia and early stages of adenocarcinoma can be treated by endoscopic resection and new endoscopic therapies such as radiofrequency ablation, whereas advanced stages (submucosal)are generally advised to undergo surgical treatment. Non-dysplastic and low-grade patients are generally advised to undergo annual observation with endoscopy, with radiofrequency ablation as a therapeutic option. In high-grade dysplasia, the risk of developing cancer might be at 10% per patient-year or greater.
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