Your browser is out of date

With an updated browser, you will have a better Medtronic website experience. Update my browser now.

×

Skip to main content

ABOUT THE CONDITION

What is Barrett’s Oesophagus

Barrett’s oesophagus is a pre-cancerous disease that affects the lining of the oesophagus. It occurs when stomach acids and enzymes leak back into the oesophagus. Over time, the chronic injury from the acid backwash cause the oesophagus cells to change. 

Reflux and Barrett's Oesophagus

 

It is common for a patient with untreated gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) to develop Barrett’s oesophagus.1 Estimates suggest that over 95% of Barrett’s oesophagus patients also have GORD.2 Barrett’s oesophagus is the primary risk factor for oesophageal cancer and can increase a person’s risk by 50 times or more.2-5

Barrett’s Oesophagus Symptoms

Symptoms that indicate a need for testing include:

  • Chronic heartburn
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Nausea
  • Chest pain

If you experience frequent GORD symptoms and have been regularly using medications to control heartburn for several years, speak to your GP, who may refer you to a gastroenterologist (GI).

Barrett's Esophagus - Patients and Stages
Barrett's Esophagus - Patients and Stages

Barrett’s Oesophagus Treatment Options

If you’ve been diagnosed with Barrett’s Oesophagus, there are several approaches available to help manage your symptoms. After diagnosis, your doctor will recommend treatment based on your overall health and risk of disease progression. 

Barrett’s Oesophagus Diagnosis

To diagnose Barrett’s oesophagus, your physician will need to perform an upper endoscopy.

Untreated Barrett’s may lead to oesophageal adenocarcinoma, a type of oesophageal cancer. Diagnosis is important to reduce the risk of disease progression. 

Barrett's Esophagus - Patients and Stages
Barrett's Esophagus - Patients and Stages

Barrett’s Oesophagus Causes 

In addition to suffering from chronic heartburn, other factors that may put a person at risk for Barrett’s oesophagus include:7

  • Obesity
  • Tobacco use
  • Caucasian ethnicity
  • Family history
  • Male gender
doctor-elderly-patien

1 Mayo Clinic. Barrett’s Esophagus; Patient Care & Health information; Diseases and Conditions. Published Feb 2023. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/barretts-esophagus

2 Spechler SJ. Barrett’s esophagus. N Engl J Med. 2002;346(11):836-42.

3 SEER Cancer Statistics Factsheets: Esophageal Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/esoph.html.

4 De Jonge PJ, van Blankenstein M, Looman CW, Casparie MK, Meijer GA, Kuipers EJ. Risk of malignant progression in patients with Barrett’s oesophagus: a Dutch nationwide cohort study. Gut. 2010;59:1030-6.

5 Hvid-Jensen F, Pedersen L, Drewes AM, Sorensen HT, Funch-Jensen P. Incidence of adenocarcinoma among patients with Barrett’s esophagus. N Engl J Med. 2011;365:1375-83.