Based on the American College of Gastroenterology guidelines, Barrett’s esophago (BE) is defined as a change in the distal esophageal epithelium that can be recognized as columnar type mucosa at endoscopy and is histologically confirmed to have intestinal metaplasia. The development of BE has also been associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Other risk factors related to BE include smoking, age, male gender, etc. Helicobacter pylori infection has been reported to be negatively associated with BE [1]. As a consequence of the clinical and epidemiological evidence supporting the association between BE and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), BE is considered a precancerous lesion of EAC. Based on that definition, the prevalence of BE in Asia ranges from 0.06% to 6.2% [1]. The reported prevalence of BE in Western countries has varied from 0.9% to 4.5% in the general population and from 6.3% to 13.6% in patients with GERD [2].
Date:
2015-12
Relation:
Advances in Digestive Medicine. 2015 Dec;2(4):121-122.
