title: Columnar-lined esophagus. Definitions.
abstract: Recognition of a columnar-lined esophagus requires precise criteria by which to delimit the esophagus and the stomach. Endoscopically recognizable landmarks such as the squamocolumnar junction (SCJ or Z-line) can be used to identify structures at the gastroesophageal junction. Once the SCJ is located proximal to the gastroesophageal junction, a columnar-lined segment of esophagus is visible. If biopsy specimens from the columnar-lined segment show specialized intestinal metaplasia, then the patient has Barrett's esophagus (BE), and the extent of the columnar lining determines if it is short- or long-segment BE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA. SJSPECHLER@AOL.com
authors.forename: Stuart Jon
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Spechler
mesh_terms: D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D005756:Gastritis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008679:Metaplasia / Q000209:etiology; D013270:Stomach / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*