Barrett’s esophagus may present chronic heartburn symptoms; however, many patients will have no symptoms.
Symptoms of GERD include:
- Burning feeling in the throat
- Frequent heartburn
- Recurrent cough
- Regurgitation or vomiting
Symptoms that may indicate a more serious problem include:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Food getting stuck in the esophagus
- Pain when swallowing
- Weight loss
How is Barrett’s Esophagus diagnosed?
Barrett’s esophagus is diagnosed with endoscopy and biopsy to sample the lining of the esophagus. A sample is taken and sent to pathology for evaluation. If no precancerous change (dysplasia) is detected on biopsy, an acid blocking medication and a repeat endoscopy with biopsy in a few years is typically recommended. If precancerous tissue growth is seen on biopsy, endoscopy therapy may be advised.
How is Barrett’s esophagus treated?
At Yale New Haven Hospital, we have a highly skilled team, specially trained in a variety of advanced endoscopy procedures who diagnose and treat disorders, especially potentially cancerous ones such as Barrett’s esophagus. Endoscopic therapy can prevent Barrett’s esophagus with dysplasia (an abnormal change in the cells) from progressing to cancer. This abnormal area can be thick and bumpy or flat in appearance. If treated by a gastroenterologist trained in advanced endoscopy, the specialist will use an endoscope to remove any thickened abnormal tissue from the esophagus using a technique of Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR) or Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD) to cut out the tissue. A pathologist will then evaluate the tissue and confirm that the abnormal growth was removed. Once the thickened area has been removed, the rest of the flat Barrett’s esophagus is treated by techniques such as radio-frequency ablation (RFA), cryotherapy (freezing the tissue) or hybrid APC (Argon Plasma Coagulation).
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