Endoscopic Therapy for Barrett's Esophagus

Recent retrospective cohort data and a prospective randomized sham controlled trial have clearly documented the impact of endoscopic ablation therapy on dysplasia and Barrett's esophagus (BE). The clinical indications for ablation of BE includes high-grade dysplasia and intramucosal adenocarcinoma. The techniques of resection of mucosal irregularities and of ablation are reviewed, primarily thermal and photodynamic ablation. Ablation of BE with neoplasia has appropriately entered the clinical arena.

Abbreviations used in this paper: APC, argon plasma coagulation, BE, Barrett's esophagus, ER, endoscopic resection, HGD, high-grade dysplasia, IM, intestinal metaplasia, IMC, intramucosal adenocarcinoma, LGD, low-grade dysplasia, MPEC, multipolar electrocoagulation, PDT, photodynamic therapy, PPI, proton pump inhibitor, RFA, radiofrequency ablation