Early Barrett's Esophagus

Early Barrett's esophagus is defined by the Mayo Clinic as, "A state in which the cells, lining the bottom portion of the esophagus have been damaged, and replaced with abnormal cells. Over time, these damaged cells may transform into cancer of the esophagus. According to the Mayo Clinic, "individuals that have been diagnosed with acid reflux disease have a small chance of develop Barrett's esophagus." Moreover, early detection of Barrett's esophagus plays a crucial role in the detection and prevention of esophageal cancer.

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Symptoms

• Symptoms of Barrett's esophagus are usually asymptomatic (without symptoms). However, according to the Mayo Clinic, individuals who experience "chronic heartburn, difficulty swallowing, vomit blood or have a tarry stool should seek medical attention."

Diagnosis

• Your physician may examine your esophagus with an endoscope (a tube that can view the inside or your esophagus.) If a noticeable change in the esophagus lining is present, your doctor may than do a biopsy (take tissue samples) to send to a pathologist to look at under a microscope.

Staging

• According to the Mayo Clinic, tissues samples will be graded to determine the amount of change within the cells. The pathologist will return the laboratory report to your physician, which will indicate the degree of dysplasia (pre-cancerous). If no dysplasia is found, no changes in the cells have occurred. If a minimal change in cell tissues is discovered, then esophageal cancer may soon develop. Moreover, if there is a significant change is cell structure, according to the Mayo Clinic, "high-grade dysplasia is thought to be the final step before cells change into esophageal cancer."

Treatment

• Treatment for early Barrett's esophagus is usually treated by yearly endoscopy follow-up exams with your physician. In some cases, medication to control acid reflux disease may be prescribed as well. If you have low-grade Barrett's esophagus, an endoscopy may be preformed by your physician every six months in order to monitor the disease.

Prevention

• According to the Mayo Clinic, individuals diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus may "develop esophageal cancer. However, maintaining a healthy lifestyle by eating smaller portions, and abstaining from lying down for several hours after your meal may help prevent early Barrett's esophagus."