[Barrett's esophagus].
The Barrett's esophagus showing columnar metaplasia upward to the esophagus from the esophago-gastric junction is one of the final appearance of reflux esophagitis and important as a precancerous state of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Especially the Barrett's mucosa with intestinal metaplasia has high potential risk for adenocarcinoma. Although the clinical definition of the esophago-gastric junction is not easy, the criteria of the esophago-gastric junction and the Barrett's mucosa proposed by the Japanese Society for Esophageal Diseases is useful. The gastro-esophageal reflux is important in the development of Barrett's mucosa not only in the classical Barrett's esophagus but also in the short-segment Barrett's.
Kawano
T
T
First Department of Surgery, Tokyo Medical and Dental University.
Iwai
T
T
D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000473:pathology*; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000473:pathology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans