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The prevalence of esophageal adenocarcinoma is increasing rapidly, and recent population-based epidemiologic studies have indicated an increased incidence of detected Barrett esophagus (BE; Journal Watch Gastroenterology Sep 27 2005). In this study, researchers examined BE prevalence in 300 older patients (age, ≥65; 161 male; 83% white) who had been referred for outpatient colonoscopy and who had not undergone prior upper endoscopy.
Patients underwent upper endoscopy with histologic sampling (for specialized columnar mucosa in the distal tubular esophagus) followed by colonoscopy. BE was present in 50 patients (16.7%) and was more common in men than in women (22% vs. 11%; P<0.025). Most patients with BE (92%) had columnar epithelium that was…