[Barrett's esophagus: its diagnosis and management in Japan]

The incidence of adenocarcinoma derived from Barrett's esophagus has been steadily increasing during the past some decades in Western countries. The development of better diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for Barrett's esophagus and Barrett's adenocarcinoma have become an important objective. In Japan, Barrett's adenocarcinoma has been gradually increasing as the results of a high incidence of reflux esophagitis, a decreasing of Helicobacter pylori infection and an increasing of obesity, etc. Subsequently, in recent, the management of Barrett's esophagus has come to be of interest as well as in the Western countries. Many issues found in the pathophysiology and epidemiology of Barrett's esophagus in Japanese patients are required to be clarified and the Japanese maneuvers regarding the diagnostic procedure and clinical management including the surveillance for patients with Barrett's esophagus should be established as soon as possible.