Endoscopic screening and surveillance for Barrett's esophagus--clinical implications.

There is now a clear causal relationship between symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux and esophageal adenocarcinoma (Lagergren et al, 1999). The risk factor is now identified as Barrett's metaplasia (Solaymani et al, 2004). Chronic reflux results in Barrett's metaplastic change, and the route to carcinoma is a stepwise progression, through dysplasia to invasive carcinoma (Jankowski et al, 2000). Earlier-stage disease is found in patients …