Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports
. 2010 Jul;8(7):565-71.
doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2009.11.013. Epub 2009 Dec 3.

A 52-year-old man with heartburn: should he undergo screening for Barrett's esophagus?

Affiliations
Case Reports

A 52-year-old man with heartburn: should he undergo screening for Barrett's esophagus?

Seth D Crockett et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010 Jul.
No abstract available

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Important questions in considering whether GERD patients should be screened for Barrett’s esophagus to prevent esophageal adenocarcinoma. Questions labeled with asterisks are either poorly described or currently debated in the medical literature. Based on the US Preventive Health Service Task Force generic framework for screening topics. 1: Is there direct evidence that screening for Barrett’s esophagus (BE) leads to reduced risk of morbidity or mortality from esophageal cancer?* 2: Is there direct evidence that screening for dysplasia in patients with BE leads to reduced risk of morbidity or mortality from esophageal cancer?* 3: Is there direct evidence that treatment of dysplasia leads to reduced risk of morbidity or mortality from esophageal cancer? 4: What is the prevalence of GERD? What is the prevalence of esophageal cancer in persons with GERD? Can a high risk group be identified? 5: What is the prevalence of BE? What is the prevalence of esophageal cancer in persons with BE? Can a high risk group be identified? 6: What is the prevalence of esophageal cancer? Does all esophageal cancer act the same way? Are there indolent forms of the disease?* 7: Can screening tests accurately identify BE? 8: Can screening tests accurately identify dysplasia?* 9: How effective are treatments for dysplasia? Does treatment of dysplasia reduce the risk of esophageal cancer? 10: How effective is treatment of esophageal cancer? Does treatment improve outcomes for people diagnosed by screening vs. those diagnosed clinically?* 11: What are the adverse effects of screening for BE in people with GERD?* 12: What are the adverse effects of screening for dysplasia in people with BE?* 13: What are the adverse effects of treatment of dysplasia? 14: What are the adverse effects of treatment of esophageal cancer?
Figure 2
Figure 2
Modified diagram for use of endoscopy in the setting of GERD, based on published AGA and ACG guidelines. GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Figure 3
Figure 3
Weighing the potential benefits and harms of screening for Barrett’s esophagus amongst patients with Gastroesophageal reflux disease

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Locke GR, 3rd, Talley NJ, Fett SL, Zinsmeister AR, Melton LJ., 3rd Prevalence and clinical spectrum of gastroesophageal reflux: a population-based study in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Gastroenterology. 1997;112:1448–56. - PubMed
    1. Csendes A, Smok G, Burdiles P, Quesada F, Huertas C, Rojas J, Korn O. Prevalence of Barrett's esophagus by endoscopy and histologic studies: a prospective evaluation of 306 control subjects and 376 patients with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux. Dis Esophagus. 2000;13:5–11. - PubMed
    1. Ronkainen J, Aro P, Storskrubb T, Johansson SE, Lind T, Bolling-Sternevald E, Vieth M, Stolte M, Talley NJ, Agreus L. Prevalence of Barrett's esophagus in the general population: an endoscopic study. Gastroenterology. 2005;129:1825–31. - PubMed
    1. Lieberman DA, Oehlke M, Helfand M. Risk factors for Barrett's esophagus in community-based practice. GORGE consortium. Gastroenterology Outcomes Research Group in Endoscopy. Am J Gastroenterol. 1997;92:1293–7. - PubMed
    1. Winters C, Jr, Spurling TJ, Chobanian SJ, Curtis DJ, Esposito RL, Hacker JF, 3rd, Johnson DA, Cruess DF, Cotelingam JD, Gurney MS, et al. Barrett's esophagus. A prevalent, occult complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Gastroenterology. 1987;92:118–24. - PubMed

Publication types