Endoscopic Mucosal Resection Improves Diagnostic Consistency in BE Patients

Diagnostic reproducibility was significantly greater with EMR than with mucosal biopsy.

In patients with Barrett esophagus, treatment decisions often are made based on histopathologic evaluation of mucosal biopsy specimens. However, pathologists recognize that interobserver variation in the interpretation of these specimens is a problem. Might diagnostic reproducibility be better with specimens that are obtained during endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR)? EMR is increasing in popularity for BE diagnosis and already is known to improve pathologic grading versus mucosal biopsy.

In the present study, nine gastrointestinal pathologists independently reviewed, in a blinded fashion, 25 EMR specimens and 25 mucosal biopsy specimens collected from 25 patients with BE. Each specimen was classified by each pathologist as nonneoplastic BE,…

Reviewing Author

David A. Johnson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory boardMedscape/WebMD; Pfizer; CRH Medical Corporation; Aries

EquityCRH Medical Corporation

Editorial boardsMedscape Gastroenterology

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Gastroenterology Research Institute Board of Directors

David A. Johnson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory boardMedscape/WebMD; Pfizer; CRH Medical Corporation; Aries

EquityCRH Medical Corporation

Editorial boardsMedscape Gastroenterology

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Gastroenterology Research Institute Board of Directors