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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
An Immunofluorescent Method for Characterization of Barrett’s Esophagus Cells
Published on: July 20, 2014
Patients with Barrett's esophagus perceive their risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma as low
Michelle E Kruijshaar1, Peter D Siersema, A Cecile J W Janssens
1Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Background:
The risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) for patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE) is approximately 0.5% per year.
Objective:
To investigate how patients with BE estimate and perceive their risk of developing EAC.
Design:
Questionnaire study.
Setting:
Patients with BE who were undergoing surveillance endoscopy based on histologic and flow cytometric results.
Patients:
A total of 192 patients with BE were included.
Main Outcome Measurements:
Individual patients were asked to estimate the numerical risk to develop EAC for patients with BE in general and for themselves. How patients perceived their own risk was measured on a scale from "very small" to "very large."
Results:
At least 1 question was filled out by 169 patients (88% response). Sixty percent of respondents underestimated the numerical risk for patients with BE, in general, to develop EAC, while even more patients (69%) underestimated their own risk. Most respondents perceived their own risk as very small or small (63%).
Limitations:
Risk estimations may depend on the response scale used.
Conclusions:
Most patients with BE underestimated the numerical risk and perceived their risk of developing EAC as (very) low. Despite a low perceived risk, all patients in this group adhered to endoscopic surveillance.
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