Barrett’s esophagus: a review

Aleksandras Bagajevas, Vidmantas Žindžius

Klaipėda Hospital, Lithuania

Key words: Barrett’s esophagus, carcinoma of esophagus.

Summary. Evolved Barrett’s esophagus may cause 30–125 times higher risk of carcinoma of esophagus in those patients compared to general population. Therefore, patients having Barrett’s esophagus require special care as well as timely and adequate treatment. New methods of early treatment were developed (photodynamic therapy, argon plasma coagulation, multipolar electrocoagulation, etc.). However, problems of histological and endoscopic diagnosis, patients’ selection and observation, determination of indications treatment methods, etc. still remain.

Correspondence to V. Žindžius, Klaipėda Hospital, Liepojos 41, 5808 Klaipėda, Lithuania. E-mail: vz@delfi.lt

Received 10 September 2003, accepted 5 November 2003