[Barrett's esophagus]

The first part of this report reviews the definition, history and clinical aspects of Barrett s Esophagus. The next section explains the results obtained at INEN, Lima Peru. The first case of Barrett s Esophagus complicated with Adenocarcinoma was diagnosed in 1956. The prevalence of Barrett s Esophagus in 3,904 patients who were administered endoscopy examinations is 0.64%. The evaluation of 40 patients with Barrett s Esophagus indicated that it has a greater incidence in males than in females (3:1). The average age of patients with Barrett s Esophagus is 60 years and its incidence increases as they grow older. It manifests itself in 40 year old persons and is specially strong from 55 to 64 years of age. Dysplasia is associated with Intestinal Metaplasia. The frequency of the epidermoid carcinoma is of 96% and for adenocarcinoma of 4% in the period of evaluation of 15 years (1985-1999). There is no difference in the tendency of epidermoid carcinoma and esophagus adenocarcinoma during the same evaluation period. The incidence of Barrett s Esophagus adenocarcinoma is higher in males than in females: (6:1). Intestinal metaplasia is found in 13/14 patients evaluated in relation to the esophagus adenocarcinoma. Long segment Barrett s Esophagus, is found in 13/14 patients complicated with adenocarcinoma. The average size of the long segment Barrett s Esophagus is of 6 cm in the patients with adenocarcinoma.