title: Barrett's esophagus: natural history.
abstract: The following on the natural history of Barrett's esophagus (BE) includes commentary on histological sequences of the development of Barrett mucosa; the transformation of esophageal cells from squamous to columnar phenotype; the stages of natural history of dysplasia; the difficulties of predicting progression of dysplasia to adenocarcinoma; the preferable biopsy protocols; the role of Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric atrophy in the risk of BE; the value of decrease of proton pump inhibitor efficacy following eradication of H. pylori; the place of antireflux surgery in the natural history of BE; the newest procedures for the endoscopic detection of early neoplasia; and the essential importance of a good understanding of the natural history for the best management of high-grade dysplasia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Henry D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Appelman
authors.forename: Asad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Umar
authors.forename: Roy C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Orlando
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Sontag
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nandurkar
authors.forename: Hala
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: El-Zimaity
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lanas
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parise
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Helen M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Shields
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors