Columnar-lined esophagus: time to drop the eponym of "Barrett": Historical review

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Medical History
• Histopathology

Background:

• Columnar-lined esophagus (CLE) has been described using approximately 30 different terms, causing significant confusion in medical literature.
• The historical progression of understanding CLE can be divided into five distinct stages, from its initial description to refined research.

Discussion:

• The eponym "Barrett's esophagus" is historically contentious, as Norman Barrett's 1957 presentation followed earlier descriptions by other investigators.
• Philip Allison's contributions to understanding CLE are significant and often overshadowed by the eponym.
• The historical review suggests that the term "Barrett's esophagus" is not historically justified.

Key Insights:

• The historical analysis reveals that Norman Barrett's contribution to the core concept of CLE was limited compared to other researchers.
• Earlier works by Tileston, Lortat-Jacob, and Allison and Johnstone predated Barrett's description of the condition.
• The widespread use of the eponym "Barrett's" obscures the contributions of earlier pioneers.

Outlook:

• The study advocates for the discontinuation of the term "Barrett's esophagus".
• The proposed terminology change to "columnar-lined esophagus" aims to improve clarity and historical accuracy.
• Adopting "columnar-lined esophagus" will facilitate more precise communication and research in gastroenterology.