Development of quality indicators for endoscopic eradication therapies in Barrett’s esophagus: the TREAT-BE (Treatment with Resection and Endoscopic Ablation Techniques for Barrett’s Esophagus) Consortium

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is the only identifiable precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), a malignancy that is associated with an increasing incidence and a dismal 5-year survival rate of 15% to 20%.1-3 BE is characterized by the replacement of normal squamous epithelium of the distal esophagus with metaplastic intestinal-type columnar epithelium.4,5 The presumed step-wise progression of BE to invasive EAC through the histopathologic stages of low-grade dysplasia (LGD), high-grade dysplasia (HGD), and intramucosal EAC provides opportunities to halt the progression and decrease the incidence of BE-related EAC.

http://ift.tt/2qwVJGg