BARRETT’S OESOPHAGUS TREATMENT OPTIONS REFLUX TESTING AND TREATMENT
A combination of options, including symptom surveillance and radiofrequency ablation therapy may be used to manage and treat Barrett’s oesophagus.
SEEK TREATMENT FOR BARRETT’S OESOPHAGUS
Untreated Barrett’s may lead to oesophageal adenocarcinoma, a type of oesophageal cancer, so early detection and treatment is critical. If you have been diagnosed with Barrett’s oesophagus, ask your doctor about available treatment options.
Disease management options for Barrett’s oesophagus vary by progression of pre-cancerous cell growth (dysplasia) in your oesophagus. Speak to a gastroenterologist (GI) about your disease management options.
SURVEILLANCE
If you're in the early stages of Barrett's and have no significant risk factors for progression, your physician may recommend periodic appointments to monitor your disease. At these appointments, they will perform an endoscopy and take samples (biopsies) of the affected tissue. The frequency of surveillance may vary depending on the severity of your Barrett's oesophagus and your risk factors.
RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) uses heat to remove precancerous tissue from the oesophagus. Barrett’s oesophagus patients treated with radiofrequency ablation are less likely to progress to oesophageal cancer compared to patients who undergo surveillance. Radiofrequency ablation can reduce the relative risk of disease progression to cancer by up to 94 percent.1-3
OTHER TREATMENT OPTIONS
Depending on the stage of your Barrett's oesophagus, your doctor will likely recommend surveillance, or endoscopic therapy such as radiofrequency ablation, argon plasma coagulation, cryotherapy, endoscopic mucosal resection, or endoscopic submucosal dissection.
1
Shaheen NJ, Sharma P, Overholt BF, et al. Radiofrequency ablation in Barrett's esophagus with dysplasia. N Engl J Med 2009;360:2277-88
2
Phoa KN, van Vilsteren FG, Pouw RE, Weusten BL, et al. Radiofrequency ablation vs endoscopic surveillance for patients with Barrett esophagus and low-grade dysplasia: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2014 Mar 26;311(12):1209-17
3
Wolf WA, Pasricha S, Cotton C, et al. Incidence of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma and Causes of Mortality after Radiofrequency Ablation of Barrett's esophagus. Gastroenterology. 2015;149:1752-1761