title: Adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction and Barrett's esophagus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Barrett's esophagus is associated with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. The aim of this study was to find the prevalence of Barrett's esophagus in patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive, freshly resected surgical esophagogastrectomy specimens were examined, and multiple histological sections were made around the tumor periphery. Barrett's esophagus was defined as specialized columnar epithelium above the esophagogastric junction. Tumors centered < or = 2 cm from the junction were defined as junction cancers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Barrett's esophagus was found in 9 of 9 (100%) esophageal adenocarcinomas compared with 0 of 8 (0%) squamous carcinoma controls (P < 0.001). Ten of 24 (42%) junction adenocarcinomas had a Barrett's esophagus. A Barrett's esophagus was found in 8 of 12 (67%) junction cancers < or = 6 cm in length but only 2 of 12 (17%) larger tumors (P < 0.05). Barrett's esophagus was significantly associated with junction tumors < 6 cm compared with squamous carcinoma controls (P < 0.02). In 5 specimens with junction cancer, the length of Barrett's esophagus was < 3 cm, and in 5 specimens it was > or = 3 cm. Specialized epithelium was often found below the esophagogastric junction in controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adenocarcinomas of the esophagogastric junction are associated with short and long segments of Barrett's esophagus. Larger cancers probably overgrow and conceal the underlying specialized columnar epithelium from which they arise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lomboy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pera
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Carpenter
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies