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Medical Author:

Bhupinder Anand, MD

Medical Author:

Wilfred M. Weinstein, MD

Medical Editor:

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

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In this Article

• What is Barrett's esophagus?
• Why is there so much interest in Barrett's esophagus?
• What causes Barrett's esophagus?
• Who develops Barrett's esophagus?
• What is the specific abnormality in the inner lining (epithelium) of Barrett's esophagus?
• What about the cancer that occurs in Barrett's esophagus?
• What is dysplasia in Barrett's esophagus?
• What is the risk of developing adenocarcinoma of the esophagus in Barrett's?
• What are the symptoms of Barrett's esophagus?
• How is GERD with or without Barrett's esophagus treated?
• Why is it important to screen patients with GERD to diagnose Barrett's esophagus?
• Why is it critical to be accurate in the diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus?
• What does endoscopic biopsy surveillance in Barrett's esophagus involve?
• How is high grade dysplasia managed?
• How is low grade dysplasia managed?
• What are the experimental approaches for treatment of high grade dysplasia?
• What experimental options are there for Barrett's esophagus WITHOUT dysplasia?
• What does the future hold for Barrett's esophagus?
• Barrett's Esophagus At A Glance
• GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) FAQs
• Patient Comments: Barrett&39;s Esophagus - Experience
• Patient Comments: Barrett&39;s Esophagus - Symptoms and Signs
• Find a local Gastroenterologist in your town
• Barrett's Esophagus Index

Approximately 10% to 15% of individuals with chronic symptoms of GERD develop Barrett's esophagus, and  it is estimated that Barrett's esophagus may affect as many as one in 100 to one in 500 individuals in the general Caucasian population, especially among males. Not everyone with GERD has symptoms of GERD, however. Therefore, some people with Barrett's are unaware that they have Barrett's because they have GERD without any symptoms at all or have very mild and infrequent symptoms.

It is unclear why Barrett's esophagus is so overwhelmingly more common in white males than in any other group. For example, although women and African-Americans do not seem to be protected from developing GERD, they are largely protected (especially African-Americans) from developing Barrett's esophagus and Barrett's cancer (adenocarcinoma). There is evidence that in the western hemisphere, esophageal cancer and cancer of the gastroesophageal junction (called cardia cancer) are increasing in frequency, perhaps more so than any other gastrointestinal tract cancer. (You should know, however, that colon cancer is still very much more common than esophageal cancer.)

Barrett's esophagus may run in some families and be genetically determined. Studies are underway to determine if any genes or markers can be found in these families that would predict the development of Barrett's esophagus in the general population. In these families with Barrett's as well as with Barrett's in the general population, GERD is the common denominator. However, the question is why the Barrett's occurs more commonly in these families than in others with comparably severe GERD, but with no family association.