Barrett Esophagus : Treatment

Comments:
Treatment of Barrett Esophagus (BE): Patients with BE are treated with once-daily proton pump inhibitor (PPI) to reduce acid production and decrease irritation to the lower esophagus.

Although there is no evidence that regular endoscopic surveillance improves outcome for patients with BE, most patients do enter a program and receive endoscopic surveillance every 3 to 5 years.

If the biopsy shows BE, but is labeled as indefinite for dysplasia, patients will likely return for a surveillance endoscopy within 8 weeks and have additional biopsies taken at 1 cm intervals within the area of BE to better assess for dysplasia.

About this image: The image shows high-grade dysplasia in BE. The glands are crowded and irregularly shaped. There is nuclear hyperchromasia, increased mitotic activity, and prominent nucleoli. Dysplastic changes are most often seen in the areas of incomplete intestinal metaplasia.