[Barrett's esophagus]

Barrett's esophagus is a pre-malignant change in esophageal mucosa. Its relation to the reflux disease of the esophagus and the origin of adenocarcinoma (which currently has an increasing incidence) experiences its renaissance. The pathogenesis of this disease is based on the composite effect of reflux contents of hydrochloric acid and duodenal juices. In addition to endoscopy and histology, chromoendoscopy and fluorescent endoscopy are gradually starting to be put into diagnostic routine practice. The control of patients is a necessity which depends on the degree of pathohistological changes within the epithelium. The therapy of the Barrett's esophagus can be either conservative which is currently carried out by proton pump inhibitors or surgical. Ablation of epithelium in combination with a subsequent long-term antisecretory therapy appears to be a promising treatment. (Ref. 23.)