Published in:
01-04-2016 | Original Article
Prevalence of esophageal neoplasia in short-segment versus long-segment Barrett’s esophagus
Published in: Esophagus | Issue 2/2016
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Background
With heightened awareness of the increasing rate of esophageal adenocarcinoma and success of endotherapy for Barrett’s neoplasia, our Barrett’s center has seen a rise in referrals for evaluation and management of Barrett’s esophagus. We sought to compare the prevalence of neoplasia in patients with short- (<3 cm) versus long-segment Barrett’s esophagus (≥3 cm) referred to our Barrett’s center.
Methods
We performed a retrospective analysis of endoscopic procedures and pathology reports in adult patients (age >18) referred to our Barrett’s center over a 6-year period. Neoplasia was defined as low-grade dysplasia, high-grade dysplasia and superficial esophageal adenocarcinoma. Outcome measures included the prevalence of neoplasia in short- vs long-segment Barrett’s esophagus.
Results
Four-hundred and eighty-five patients (74 % male) were identified; 51 % had short-segment and 49 % had long-segment Barrett’s esophagus. The prevalence of neoplasia in short- vs long-segment Barrett’s esophagus was 33.6 vs 59.1 % (low-grade dysplasia 8.0 vs 14.5 %, high-grade dysplasia 12.8 vs 24.7 %, esophageal adenocarcinoma 12.8 vs 20.0 %). Long-segment Barrett’s esophagus was associated with 2.55-fold increase in odds of neoplasia relative to the short-segment group (OR 2.55, p < 0.001, CI 1.73–3.76).
Conclusion
Neoplasia was more prevalent in patients with long-segment Barrett’s. Surprisingly, 23.4 % of patients with an “irregular Z line” harbored advanced neoplasia (high grade dysplasia or esophageal adenocarcinoma) in our biased referral population. This suggests that patients with an “irregular Z line” should be biopsied and, if intestinal metaplasia is detected, surveyed per established Barrett’s esophagus guidelines.