Barret’s esophagus is named after a surgeon, Norman Barret, who illustrated the disease.  After sometime, it turned out that the description and interpretation of Barret was not right.  In the year 1953, there were two doctors who described the well-known Barret’s esophagus as metaplasia.

Facts on Barret’s esophagus

Originally, Barret’s esophagus was thought to be comprised of gastric tissues substituting the common scaly coating of the esophagus.  But in the middle part of the 70’s there were doctors who issued literatures to profoundly illustrate the inside layer of the Barret’s esophagus.  These doctors indicated that the disease is comprised of metaplasia wherein its regular inside layer was substituted by the combination of gastric and intestinal coating cells (also known as specialized columnar cells).

Over the years, there were scientists who thought that there were two kinds of Barret’s esophagus:  one when the regular coating was substituted by gastric cells; and the other is that intestinal cells were always present.  As of the present, it is believed that the presence of intestinal cells is the only basis of the proper diagnosis of the condition.

Diagnosis for Barret’s esophagus

Endoscopy will determine the condition of the esophagus.  Through this process, the doctor will see if there is an irregularity in the body part.  He will check if the inside white layer of the esophagus is replaced by an irregular pink coating.  The irregular coating can be extended from a brief space of the gastroesophageal junction up to your esophagus.

Biopsy is another process to detect the condition.  The doctor will get tissue samples from the irregular coating seen through endoscopy.  The tissue sample is viewed through a microscope to determine the occurrence of intestinal cells known as goblet cells.  Other kinds of cells similar to stomach cells may also be determined in the process.  If there is no presence of intestinal goblet cells seen through endoscopy, Barret’s esophagus is ruled out.

Reasons for a great attention to Barret’s esophagus

The sole reason why there is a tremendous attention given to Barret’s esophagus is the fact that it results to cancer in the area.  There were studies conducted showing an extreme connection between cancer of the esophagus and Barret’s esophagus.  Individuals who suffered Barret’s esophagus will most likely be infected with adenocarcinoma.  Likewise a scaly kind of carcinoma – those appearing from the scaly coating regularly seen in the esophagus – may be accounted for with the condition.  These types of cancer usually occur in major countries around the Western hemisphere.

On the other hand, the best news is that cancer usually arises rarely in individuals who have Barret’s esophagus.  Although this is the case, the best thing you can do is to observe for early symptoms and to undergo regular biopsies and endoscopies.  This must be done in order to make sure that the condition will not lead to cancer and other kinds of diseases like acid reflux.  Since you know what you feel, you have to make sure that you go directly to your physician for help.  You have to be very vigilant about your situation.

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Surgery and Cancer

Adenocarcinoma is a kind of cancer of the esophagus that is greatly affecting a lot of people in Western Europe and the United States.  Acid reflux disease is commonly blamed as a factor to this plight.  It is considered that GERD has the ability to damage the cells coating the esophagus.  This is due to the stomach acid that results to cell alteration.  In the long run, this turns into adenocarcinoma.

The usual medication used in treating simple heartburn is to manage its signs by manipulating the acid.  Barret’s esophagus which is one of the complications of GERD is remedied by either management of the acid regardless of indications or by undergoing GERD or acid reflux surgery.  It is advised that persons with Barret’s esophagus should submit for constant examination like endoscopy and biopsy for early detection and healing of adenocarcinoma.

GERD surgery and the different methods used

For several years, the usual surgical procedure used in curing acid reflux entails a cut in the higher part of the stomach.  But as of the present, laparoscopic surgical methods are being used by surgeons to deviate from the conventional procedure.  This type of treatment needs only some tiny pierced cuts in the stomach.

The difference between laparoscopic surgery and conventional surgical procedure is that the former results to only a few irritations for the patient making them recover in just a short period of time.  This made people favor the procedure instead of seeking help through the aid of oral medications.

As of the present, endoscopy is considered as a more advanced technique in treating GERD.  This is more comforting to the patient and requires shorter recovery compared to laparoscopic surgery.  However, it is still too soon to conclude its efficacy.  This leads us to say that both oral medication and surgical procedure are believed to be efficient in managing acid reflux and putting off GERD.

Disadvantages of oral medication for GERD

Oral medication for GERD is considered more expensive than surgery because it is required for long time use.  In fact, it may extend throughout the lifespan of the patient.  To some extent, problems may arise regarding the obedience of the patient to the medication since some patients may take the medications only when they are experiencing symptoms.  The patient may forget to take the medication continuously or they may double their dose if they forgot to take it at a required time.

Due to these reasons some doctors advice their patients to just undergo surgical procedure for their condition especially if their patients are at a risk for adenocarcinoma.  However, managing the acid either through medication or surgical procedure is still not enough to eliminate the risk of this condition.  It is actually a choice of the patient.

The study conducted in 2001in Sweden showed that dangers of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus is six times more in individuals with GERD and surgery. Even medications cannot protect them from acquiring the disease.  Therefore, the key factor in treating and preventing this cancer is early diagnosis, detection and treatment.

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