Barrett's esophagus in patients candidated for endoscopy

ABSTRACT

Barrett's esophagus is a precancerous lesion leading to esophageal carcinoma in 10% of cases. It is usually remained undetected during endoscopy and most of physicians do not take biopsy from gastroesophageal junction [GEJ] when it seems to normal. In the present study we have determined the frequency of Barrett's esophagus in a group of Iranian patients referring for endoscopy to our unit. During an eight-month period, 146 patients who had referred to our endoscopy unit entered our study regardless of their indication for endoscopy. A questionnaire dealing with demographic features, clinical manifestation of reflux, and indication for endoscopy was completed. During endoscopy, 2-4 biopsies obtained from Z-line. Finally, data were analyzed using SPSS software. The study population included 78 females and 68 males. Abdominal discomfort was the most common presenting manifestation [67.8%]. Other symptoms were reflux [7.9%], dysphagia [17.1%], chest pain [28.1%], and regurgitation [4.8%]. Endoscopy revealed short segment Barrett's esophagus in 13%, long segment Barrett's esophagus in 4.8%, esophagitis in 11% and hiatal hernia in 11%. Pathologic studies showed Barrett's esophagus in 4 [2.7%] patients, of whom, 2 had clinical manifestations of reflux and 3 failed to have endoscopic appearance of Barrett's esophagus. As noted previously, 10% of cases with Barrett's esophagus may lead to esophageal adenocarcinoma, thus, appropriate criteria should be established to diagnose patients with Barrett's esophagus during their early stage