Is Barrett Esophagus Surveillance Effective in Prevention of Incident Cancer?

Only approximately 20% of esophageal adenocarcinomas detected during surveillance endoscopy were new.

Recent reports highlight the high rate of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) that is found in patients with Barrett esophagus (BE) within a year after endoscopy (NEJM JW Gastroenterol May 2016 and Gastroenterology 2016; 150:599). Accordingly, the value of programs for endoscopic surveillance of BE and prevention (by endoscopic resection and ablative therapies) or early detection of EAC remains in doubt.

In a systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers assessed proportions of prevalent versus incident EAC in 13 cohort studies involving adults with BE (with no or low-grade dysplasia) with a minimum average follow-up of 3 years. Prevalent EAC was defined as that diagnosed concurrently with BE or within 1 year of initial endoscopy. Quality of …

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