Barrett's Esophagus-With Emphasis on Endoscopic Disgnosis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

ABSTRACT

Barrett's esophagus is a metaplastic change of the esophageal mucosa, such that the normal squamous epithelium is replaced by specialized columnar epithelium. During the last decades, there has been a significant change in the definition, endoscopic diagnosis, pathologic diagnosis, surveillance and management of Barrett's esophagus. Because of the rising prevalence of gastroesophgeal reflux disease in Korea, problems related to Barrett's esophagus are expected to be much more common in the near future. In this review, methods of endoscopic diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus are discussed in detail. Management strategies in the context of Korean epidemiology are also suggested.