The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma among patients with nondysplastic Barrett's esophagus has been overestimated

Laparoscopic transgastric esophageal mucosal resection: a treatment option for patients with high-grade dysplasia in Barrett's esophagus

BACKGROUND

We present long-term follow-up data on patients with esophageal high-grade dysplasia and/or carcinoma in situ who were treated with laparoscopic transgastric esophageal mucosal resection (LTEMR).

METHODS

Patient demographics, operative outcomes, and follow-up results were tabulated.

RESULTS

LTEMR was performed in 11 patients (9 male, 2 female). The median age was 54 (44 to 75) years. The 30-day morbidity or mortality was zero. The median follow-up was 5.2 (2 to 12) years. Upper endoscopy was performed at 3, 6, and 12 month, and yearly thereafter. All patients regenerated squamous epithelium at 6 months. One patient developed a recurrence of Barrett's epithelium 2 years after resection. No recurrences of high-grade dysplasia or carcinoma were observed in any of the patients. Two patients developed an esophageal stricture; both were treated successfully with endoscopic balloon dilation and have suffered no further sequelae.

CONCLUSIONS

LTEMR is safe and effective alternative method to treat patients with Barrett's esophagus with high-grade dysplasia.

Low risk of adenocarcinoma and high-grade dysplasia in patients with non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus: Results from a cohort from a country with low esophageal adenocarcinoma incidence

BACKGROUND

The risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) in non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus (NDBE) is considered to be approximately 0.3% per year or even lower, according to population-based studies. Data from countries with low EAC incidence are scarce. Our principal aim was to determine the incidence of high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and EAC in NDBE. Our secondary aims were to identify the predictors of progression and to calculate the incidence of HGD/EAC, by using the calculation method for surveillance time in population-based studies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cohort of NDBE patients was prospectively followed up. Cases of HGD and EAC (study end points) diagnosed during the first year of follow-up were considered as prevalent. Only cases with an endoscopic surveillance time > 1 year were included in our analysis.

RESULTS

We enrolled 331 patients (251 men) in the surveillance program. Their median age was 59 years (interquartile range (IQR): 47-67 years). Their median NDBE length was 3 cm (IQR: 2-4 cm). Of these patients, 80 died during the follow-up (one from EAC) and two were lost to follow-up. After 2284 patient-years of endoscopic follow-up (median surveillance time, 5 years (IQR: 2-10 years)), we found that five cases of HGD and two cases of EAC were diagnosed. The incidence of HGD/EAC was 3.1 cases per 1000 patient-years (95% CI: 1.3-6.0) and that of EAC was 0.9 (95% CI: 0.2-2.9). The incidence of HGD/EAC in short segments (≤ 3 cm) was 0.7 cases per 1000 patient-years (95% CI: 0.3-3.4). The sole variable that we found associated with progression was NDBE length. If the total surveillance time was considered (3537 patient-years), the incidence of HGD and EAC was only slight lower.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of HGD and EAC was very low in NDBE. Therefore, current surveillance guidelines must be reassessed, at least for short-segment BE.

Barrett's esophagus and cancer risk: how research advances can impact clinical practice

Barrett’s esophagus (BE) is the only known precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), whose incidence has increased sharply in the last 4 decades. The annual conversion rate of BE to cancer is significant, but small. The identification of patients at a higher risk of cancer therefore poses a clinical conundrum. Currently, endoscopic surveillance is recommended in BE patients, with the aim of diagnosing either dysplasia or cancer at early stages, both of which are curable with minimally invasive endoscopic techniques. There is a large variation in clinical practice for endoscopic surveillance, and dysplasia as a marker of increased risk is affected by sampling error and high interobserver variability. Screening programs have not yet been formally accepted, mainly due to the economic burden that would be generated by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Screening programs have not yet been formally accepted, mainly due to the economic burden that would be generated by widespread indication to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. In fact, it is currently difficult to formulate an accurate algorithm to confidently target the population at risk, based on the known clinical risk factors for BE and EAC. This review will focus on the clinical and molecular factors that are involved in the development of BE and its conversion to cancer and on how increased knowledge in these areas can improve the clinical management of the disease.