Outcomes Associated with Endoscopic Treatment of Cancer in Short-Segment BE

A nonsurgical curative endoscopic treatment for cancer in short-segment Barrett's esophagus shows promise as an alternative to surgical resection.

Although surgical resection is considered to be the best management strategy for patients who have Barrett's esophagus (BE) with high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or cancer, a number of endoscopic modalities have been proposed as alternatives. Researchers in Germany describe outcomes associated with endoscopic treatment in 50 patients with short-segment BE whose cancer had been staged as HGD or early esophageal cancer. Endoscopic ultrasound and spiral computerized tomography were used for staging purposes.

Twenty-eight patients underwent endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), 13 patients underwent photodynamic therapy (when it was not possible to locate the lesions precisely or when lesions were >2 cm), 3 patients with small lesions that were not amen…

Reviewing Author

David A. Johnson, MD