DIAGNOSING BARRETT’S ESOPHAGUS REFLUX TESTING AND TREATMENT
To diagnose Barrett’s esophagus, your physician will need to perform an upper endoscopy.
You just clicked a link to go to another website. If you continue, you may go to a site run by someone else.
We do not review or control the content on non-Medtronic sites, and we are not responsible for any business dealings or transactions you have there. Your use of the other site is subject to the terms of use and privacy statement on that site.
It is possible that some of the products on the other site are not approved in your region or country.
Your browser is out of date
With an updated browser, you will have a better Medtronic website experience. Update my browser now.
The content of this website is exclusively reserved for Healthcare Professionals in countries with applicable health authority product registrations.
Click “OK” to confirm you are a Healthcare Professional.
To diagnose Barrett’s esophagus, your physician will need to perform an upper endoscopy.
Over 25 percent of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients may progress to Barrett’s esophagus in their lifetime.1 Barrett’s esophagus is the primary risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma, a type of esophageal cancer.2-4
Barrett’s is more likely to occur in patients with certain risk factors, such as having frequent acid reflux symptoms, being obese, using tobacco, or having family history of Barrett’s or esophageal cancer.3,5 If you experience frequent GERD symptoms and have been regularly using medications to control heartburn for several years, speak to a gastroenterologist (GI) about screening for Barrett’s.
Barrett’s esophagus cannot be diagnosed by symptoms. Diagnosing Barrett’s is dependent on an upper endoscopy performed by a GI or surgeon. This procedure enables the physician to directly visualize the esophagus and take tissue samples.
An endoscopy is a procedure performed under sedation that allows the physician to directly visualize esophageal tissue and identify any abnormal tissue. An endoscope is a thin, flexible tube with a small camera attached. During the procedure, the endoscope is guided down the throat to inspect the esophagus and capture pictures of the tissue.
Your physician will also perform a biopsy and collect a small tissue sample for further examination. This sample will be used to determine if there is dysplasia (abnormal cell growth) present in the lining of your esophagus.
Your tissue sample will be classified into one of the following:
Normal, healthy esophagus
Low-grade dysplasia
Esophagus damaged by prolonged acid exposure
High-grade dysplasia
Nondysplastic Barrett’s esophagus
Esophageal adenocarcinoma
Referenced path does not exist
Dymedex Market Development Consulting, Strategic Market Assessment, GERD, October 30, 2014. References 1-3, 6-15, 22, 23, 25, and 34 from the full citation list, access at http://www.medtronic.com/giclaims
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.
Spechler S. et al. Barrett’s Esophagus. N Engl J Med 2014; 371:836-45.
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.
Evans JA et al. The role of endoscopy in Barrett’s esophagus and other premalignant conditions of the esophagus. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. 2012;27(6):1087-1094