If you have heartburn on a regular basis and certain risk factors, an expert should screen you for Barrett’s esophagus. The condition may be a precursor to esophageal cancer. But early detection and treatment may help you stay healthy.
Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) has a team that specializes in detecting Barrett’s esophagus. We offer screening tests to identify problems as early as possible and the expertise to help you understand next steps.
Frequent heartburn, acid reflux and/or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may cause permanent damage to the esophageal lining. The cells that line the esophagus may change over time, and they sometimes become cancerous.
If you often experience these symptoms, you may benefit from the comprehensive screening options we offer in our Barrett’s esophagus treatment program. At CTCA®, our experts recommend screening for Barrett’s esophagus for people who have both:
The risk factors for Barrett’s esophagus are:
To diagnose Barrett’s esophagus, a CTCA gastroenterologist will meet with you to discuss:
If you’re at risk for Barrett’s esophagus, you may need further testing, which may include:
The test to screen for and diagnose Barrett’s esophagus involves upper endoscopy and biopsy. Our team will:
Our team may diagnose Barrett’s esophagus based on our view inside the esophagus and the pathologist’s report on the cells. We’ll immediately explain what we saw during the endoscopy. Biopsy results may take a few days.
Normal esophageal tissue is smooth and pale. But with Barrett’s esophagus, the lining appears irregular and reddish, resembling cells in the lining of the intestines.
Our gastroenterologists and pathologists have training and experience in identifying these abnormal cell changes, called dysplasia. A gastroenterologist is a doctor who specializes in disorders of the digestive system. A pathologist is a doctor who is an expert at examining tissue.
Dysplastic cells are not necessarily malignant (cancerous), but they may become cancerous. Our Barrett’s esophagus team will determine whether your cells have:
Our team will consider the level of dysplasia when diagnosing Barrett’s esophagus and recommending what happens next.
If your CTCA care team diagnoses Barrett’s esophagus, we’ll also measure how much of the lining is affected.
The esophagus is about 25 to 33 cm (10 to 13 inches) long. Short-segment Barrett’s esophagus affects less than 3 cm (about 1.2 inches) of the lining. Long-segment Barrett’s affects more than 3 cm.
The longer the segment, the more likely that Barrett's may become esophageal cancer. Our team will consider the length of Barrett’s segment in developing a plan to monitor and treat the condition.
If you have GERD or other gastrointestinal symptoms, we're ready to help you. To learn more about our Barrett's esophagus care or to make an appointment, call or chat online with a member of our team.
At CTCA, we’ll create a monitoring schedule based on the symptoms you’re experiencing and the stage of the disease. Our team focuses on evidence-based treatment strategies, providing safe, personalized care designed to help you manage and, when possible, prevent side effects.