Radio frequency ablation of dysplastic Barrett's esophagus: Outcomes of a single-center registry

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is associated with an increased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. The use of radio frequency ablation (RFA) for complete eradication of BE with confirmed low-grade dysplasia (LGD) or high-grade dysplasia (HGD) has been promising in multicenter trials. Our aim was to evaluate the safety and efficacy outcomes associated with RFA for patients with BE and LGD/HGD in a single-center setting.

This was a retrospective single-center study conducted at Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Rigshospitalet, Denmark. Data were collected from all patients who had undergone RFA for LGD or HGD from January 2014 to December 2018. Effectiveness outcomes were based on histology: complete eradication of dysplasia (CE-D), defined as all esophageal biopsies being negative for dysplasia at the last biopsy session, and complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia (CE-IM) defined as esophageal biopsies being without intestinal metaplasia. Safety outcomes were based on the proportion of complications to the RFA treatment.

A total of 107 patients were identified during the follow-up period (75% men, median age = 65 years); 83% had LGD and 17% had HGD. The median follow-up was 25 months. After the last RFA treatment, CE-D was achieved in 89%. CE-D and CE-IM were achieved in 60%. Complications occurred in 6.5% of the patients.

In patients with BE and confirmed LGD or HGD, RFA was associated with a high rate of CE-D and a low risk of complications. The observed safety and efficacy outcomes were comparable with those previously reported in multicenter trials, showing that the Danish treatment of BE with LGD and HGD is comparable with those of larger European expert centers.