Barrett's esophagus (2024)

FAQs

Is Barrett's esophagus a serious condition? ›

Barrett's esophagus is associated with an increased risk of developing esophageal cancer. Although the risk of developing esophageal cancer is small, it's important to have regular checkups with careful imaging and extensive biopsies of the esophagus to check for precancerous cells (dysplasia).

The mean life expectancy following a diagnosis of Barrett esophagus is 22 years; the lifetime risk of requiring intervention for high-grade dysplasia or esophageal adenocarcinoma is between one in five and one in six patients.

There is no cure for Barrett esophagus. However, medicines to reduce stomach acid and surgery called fundoplication may be used to treat the disease. Because Barrett esophagus tends to recur (come back), you will need continued monitoring.

Risk of progression depends on several factors

For example, one patient with non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus develops cancer within a year of diagnosis, while another non-dysplastic patient remains cancer-free for decades. This variability in outcomes makes determining appropriate patient care very challenging.

Avoiding trigger foods—such as chocolate, coffee, fried foods, peppermint, spicy foods, and carbonated beverages—can help reduce symptoms. These foods increase acid levels in the stomach. Doctors also recommend eating multiple small, frequent meals instead of a few large ones.

If you have Barrett's esophagus and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), your doctor will treat you with acid-suppressing medicines called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). These medicines can prevent further damage to your esophagus and, in some cases, heal existing damage.

Conclusion: Treatment of Barrett's oesophagus with omeprazole 20 mg daily for periods of up to 6 years did not cause regression in the length of the Barrett's segment, but it did lead in over half of the patients to partial re-epithelialization in the form of squamous islands.

After vitamin D supplementation, 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels rose significantly (median increase of 31.6 ng/mL, p<0.001). There were no significant changes in gene expression from esophageal squamous or Barrett's epithelium including 15-PGDH after supplementation.

What are the four stages of Barrett's esophagus? ›

Barrett's oesophagus can increase your risk of cancer of the oesophagus, although the risk is still small. Many people with Barrett's oesophagus do not develop cancer. Between 3 and 13 people out of 100 (between 3 and 13%) with Barrett's oesophagus in the UK will develop oesophageal adenocarcinoma in their lifetime.

Barrett's Oesophagus is not life-threatening on its own if your symptoms are mild to moderate, so life cover should be affordable and simple.

There is a risk of Barrett's esophagus becoming cancerous, so your condition may need to be monitored frequently. If there are precancerous cells (dysplasia) diagnosed in the Barrett's esophagus, endoscopic treatment is recommended and proven safe and effective for preventing progression to cancer.

This distinction is significant because the RO has recently added Barrett's esophagus, a new disability, to the service- connected disability. Thus, the 10 percent rating assigned represents an initial rating for Barrett's esophagus.