How Often Does Barrett Esophagus Progress to Cancer?

A low cancer incidence documented in the U.K. suggests the need to review current surveillance standards for BE, particularly among patients without specialized columnar metaplasia.

Barrett esophagus (BE) is a precancerous condition that progresses to high-grade dysplasia (HGD) at an estimated rate of 0.5% to 0.9% per year. Currently, national society recommendations suggest endoscopic surveillance and biopsy of metaplastic esophageal tissue mucosa at 3-year intervals for nondysplastic BE and shorter surveillance intervals or ablative therapy for dysplasia. However, the cost-effectiveness of surveillance depends on the risk for progression of nondysplastic BE to dysplasia or cancer, which remains unclear.

To estimate risk for and rate of progression of BE to HGD or cancers of the esophagus or gastric cardia, researchers conducted a retrospective review of a BE registry database involving 8522 patients (58% male) in Nort…

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