Barrett's FAQ

   Important Safety Information

What is Barrett’s esophagus??

Barrett’s esophagus is a precancerous disease that affects the lining of the esophagus. It occurs when stomach acids and enzymes leak back into the esophagus and over time this may cause the cells to change.¹

How many people have barrett’s esophagus?

Barrett’s esophagus is estimated to affect approximately 12 million adults in the United States.²

What are the symptoms?

There are no symptoms specific to Barrett’s esophagus, other than the typical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (or GERD). These include heartburn, chest pain, and regurgitation.¹

Who is at risk?

Patients with GERD are at an increased risk for developing Barrett’s esophagus.³ Caucasian males over the age of 50 with chronic reflux symptoms or heartburn have a higher risk for the disease.⁴ Receiving a diagnosis at a young age or having a family history of Barrett’s esophagus also contribute to one’s risk.^5-10 Being overweight and obese (body mass index 25-30) nearly doubles a person's risk of developing cancer of the esophagus.^4,5

Assess your risk

Risk Assessment Tool (.pdf)
Use this resource to assess your risk for developing Barrett's esophagus. Discuss the results with a gastroenterologist — so together you can take the first step toward treatment.

How is barrett’s esophagus diagnosed?

Barrett’s esophagus cannot be diagnosed by symptoms.² A diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus is dependent on a biopsy of esophageal tissue obtained during an upper endoscopy, where the gastroenterologist can visualize the lining of the esophagus and take biopsies.

Are treatment options available?

Yes there are treatment options for Barrett's esophagus. Disease management options for Barrett’s esophagus vary by progression of precancerous cell growth (dysplasia) in your esophagus. Speak to a gastroenterologist (GI) about your disease management options.

Treatment with the Barrx™ radiofrequency ablation system has been shown to reduce disease progression by removing precancerous tissue from the esophagus.^7,11,12,13

Barrett’s esophagus patients treated with radiofrequency ablation are less likely to progress to esophageal cancer compared to patients who undergo surveillance.^7,12 The Barrx radiofrequency ablation system can reduce the relative risk of disease progression to cancer by up to 94 percent.*^,11,12,16,17

All medical procedures have benefits, risks and possible side effects. Always ask your doctor for further information on any recommended procedure. The following are transient side effects that may be expected after treatment with Barrx™ radiofrequency ablation system: chest pain, difficulty swallowing, painful swallowing, throat pain and/or fever.

What happens if barrett’s esophagus goes untreated?

Patients with untreated Barrett’s esophagus have up to sixty times higher risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC).¹⁴ 81% of people with EAC will die within five years of diagnosis.¹⁵ Patients with dysplasia, family history of esophageal cancer, obesity, smoking, and who are diagnosed at a young age have an increased risk that Barrett’s esophagus will progress to cancer.^4-10 Barrett’s esophagus patients with any of the preceding risk factors should speak to their physician about the most effective treatment to reduce their risk.