Barrett's esophagus (patient information): Difference between revisions

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===Surgery===
===Surgery===
[[Surgical]] removal of most of the [[esophagus]] is [[recommended]] if a [[person]] with [[Barrett’s esophagus]] is found to have severe [[dysplasia]] or [[cancer]] an can tolerate a [[surgical]] [[procedure]]. Many people with [[Barrett’s esophagus]] are older and have other [[medical]] problems that make [[surgery]] unwise; in these people, the less [[invasive]] [[endoscopic]] [[treatments]] would be considered. [[Surgery]] soon after [[diagnosis]] of severe [[dysplasia]] or [[cancer]] may provide a [[person]] with the best [[chance]] for a [[cure]]. The type of [[surgery]] varies, but it usually involves removing most of the [[esophagus]], pulling a portion of the [[stomach]] up into the [[chest]], and attaching it to what remains of the [[esophagus]].
[[Surgical]] removal of most of the [[esophagus]] is recommended if a [[person]] with Barrett’s esophagus is found to have severe [[dysplasia]] or [[cancer]] an can tolerate a [[surgical]] [[procedure]]. Many people with Barrett’s esophagus are older and have other [[medical]] problems that make [[surgery]] unwise; in these people, the less [[invasive]] [[endoscopic]] [[treatments]] would be considered. [[Surgery]] soon after [[diagnosis]] of severe [[dysplasia]] or [[cancer]] may provide a [[person]] with the best [[chance]] for a [[cure]]. The type of [[surgery]] varies, but it usually involves removing most of the [[esophagus]], pulling a portion of the [[stomach]] up into the [[chest]], and attaching it to what remains of the [[esophagus]].


==Diseases with similar symptoms==
==Diseases with similar symptoms==

Latest revision as of 20:24, 6 February 2018

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Barrett's esophagus

Overview

What are the symptoms?

What are the causes?

Who is at highest risk?

Diagnosis

When to seek urgent medical care?

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for Barrett's esophagus?

Prevention

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Barrett's esophagus On the Web

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

Images of Barrett's esophagus

Videos on Barrett's esophagus

FDA on Barrett's esophagus

CDC on Barrett's esophagus

Barrett's esophagusin the news

Blogs on Barrett's esophagus

Directions to Hospitals Treating Barrett's esophagus

Risk calculators and risk factors for Barrett's esophagus

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

WikiDoc Resources for Barrett's esophagus (patient information)

Articles

Most recent articles on Barrett's esophagus (patient information)

Most cited articles on Barrett's esophagus (patient information)

Review articles on Barrett's esophagus (patient information)

Articles on Barrett's esophagus (patient information) in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ

Media

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Images of Barrett's esophagus (patient information)

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Evidence Based Medicine

Cochrane Collaboration on Barrett's esophagus (patient information)

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Clinical Trials

Ongoing Trials on Barrett's esophagus (patient information) at Clinical Trials.gov

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Clinical Trials on Barrett's esophagus (patient information) at Google

Guidelines / Policies / Govt

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Barrett's esophagus (patient information)

NICE Guidance on Barrett's esophagus (patient information)

NHS PRODIGY Guidance

FDA on Barrett's esophagus (patient information)

CDC on Barrett's esophagus (patient information)

Books

Books on Barrett's esophagus (patient information)

News

Barrett's esophagus (patient information) in the news

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Commentary

Blogs on Barrett's esophagus (patient information)

Definitions

Definitions of Barrett's esophagus (patient information)

Patient Resources / Community

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Directions to Hospitals Treating Barrett's esophagus (patient information)

Risk calculators and risk factors for Barrett's esophagus (patient information)

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Symptoms of Barrett's esophagus (patient information)

Causes & Risk Factors for Barrett's esophagus (patient information)

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Barrett's esophagus (patient information) en Francais

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Experimental / Informatics

List of terms related to Barrett's esophagus (patient information)

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Assistant Editor-In-Chief: Meagan E. Doherty. Amresh Kumar MD [2]

Overview

Barrett’s esophagus is a condition in which the tissue lining the esophagus the muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach is replaced by tissue that is similar to the lining of the intestine. This process is called intestinal metaplasia.

No signs or symptoms are associated with Barrett’s esophagus, but it is commonly found in people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). A small number of people with Barrett’s esophagus develop a rare but often deadly type of cancer of the esophagus.

The average age at diagnosis is 55, but determining when the problem started is usually difficult. Men develop Barrett’s esophagus twice as often as women, and Caucasian men are affected more frequently than men of other races. Barrett’s esophagus is uncommon in children.

What are the symptoms of Barrett's esophagus?

Barrett's esophagus itself does not cause symptoms. The acid reflux that causes Barrett's esophagus results in symptoms of heartburn.

What are the causes of Barrett's esophagus?

Irritation of the lining of the esophagus by stomach acid can lead to Barrett's esophagus. The irritation is caused by stomach acid that leaks and moves back up the gastrointestinal tract. This is commonly known as gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) and it can cause heartburn.

Barrett's esophagus is more common in men than women. You have a greater risk for this condition if you have frequent and long-standing GERD.

Who is at highest risk?

Risk factors include:

  • Gender: Men develop Barrett's esophagus twice as often as women
  • Race: Caucasian men are affected more frequently than men of other races

Diagnosis

Because barrett’s esophagus does not cause any symptoms, many physicians recommend that adults older than 40 who have had GERD for a number of years undergo an endoscopy and biopsies to check for the condition. Barrett’s esophagus can only be diagnosed using an upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy to obtain biopsies of the esophagus. In an upper GI endoscopy, after the patient is sedated, the doctor inserts a flexible tube called an endoscope, which has a light and a miniature camera, into the esophagus. If the tissue appears suspicious, the doctor removes several small pieces using a pincer-like device that is passed through the endoscope. A pathologist examines the tissue with a microscope to determine the diagnosis.

When to seek urgent medical care?

Call your health care provider if heartburn persists for longer than a few days, or you have pain or difficulty swallowing.

Call your provider if you have been diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus and your symptoms get worse or do not improve with treatment, or if new symptoms develop.

Treatment options

Treatment may be important even if you do not feel any symptoms.

Lifestyle changes include:

Medications to relieve symptoms and control gastroesophageal reflux include:

Endoscopic therapies

Several endoscopic therapies are available to treat severe dysplasia and cancer. During these therapies, the Barrett’s lining is destroyed or the portion of the lining that has dysplasia or cancer is cut out. The goal of the treatment is to encourage normal esophageal tissue to replace the destroyed Barrett’s lining. Endoscopic therapies are performed at specialty centers by physicians with expertise in these procedures.

Surgery

Surgical removal of most of the esophagus is recommended if a person with Barrett’s esophagus is found to have severe dysplasia or cancer an can tolerate a surgical procedure. Many people with Barrett’s esophagus are older and have other medical problems that make surgery unwise; in these people, the less invasive endoscopic treatments would be considered. Surgery soon after diagnosis of severe dysplasia or cancer may provide a person with the best chance for a cure. The type of surgery varies, but it usually involves removing most of the esophagus, pulling a portion of the stomach up into the chest, and attaching it to what remains of the esophagus.

Diseases with similar symptoms

Where to find medical care for Barrett's esophagus?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Barrett's esophagus

Prevention of Barrett's esophagus

Diagnosis and treatment of GERD may prevent Barrett's esophagus.

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

An increased risk of esophageal cancer is present. Follow-up endoscopy to look for dysplasia or cancer is often advised.

Sources

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