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Baylor Clinic Healthletters
Barrett's Esophagus
By Yasser H. Shaib, MD, MPH and Hashem B. El-Serag, MD, MPH
How is Barrett's Esophagus Diagnosed?
If you have reflux symptoms such as heartburn, acid regurgitation and sour taste in your mouth several times a week or if a GERD diagnosis persists for several years, the American Gastroenterological Association recommends you undergo an upper endoscopy with biopsy. This procedure can detect the presence of Barrett's esophagus and check for dysplasia–abnormal growths that indicate pre-cancerous conditions. Your endoscopy should be conducted by an expert gastroenterologist and an expert pathologist.
Upper endoscopies are simple, low-risk outpatient procedures that are often covered by insurance. The painless, in-office procedure can be conducted in 15 minutes or less. During your endoscopy, a gastroenterologist will sedate you and insert a slim, flexible tube with a camera at its tip (endoscope) through your mouth and into your esophagus. A computer and TV screen allow the physician to see if Barrett's esophagus and dysplasia are present. A small sample of your esophageal tissue will be taken for biopsy–a procedure in which a pathologist tests your tissue for pre-cancerous or cancerous conditions.
You should have two endoscopic examinations with biopsies six to 12 months apart for proper diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus. The biopsies obtained during your endoscopy should be examined by a pathologist with special expertise in Barrett's esophagus.
