title: Screening and surveillance for Barrett's esophagus:  current issues and future directions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our article discusses the current understanding of screening and surveillance options for Barrett's esophagus and emerging concepts that have the potential to improve the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of surveillance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although endoscopic surveillance of patients with Barrett's esophagus is commonly practiced in order to detect high-grade dysplasia and early esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), the reported incidence of EAC in Barrett's esophagus patients varies widely. Recent studies found the risk of progression from Barrett's esophagus to EAC to be significantly lower than previously reported, raising concerns regarding the limitations of current surveillance strategies. Advances in imaging techniques and their enhanced diagnostic accuracy may improve the value of endoscopic surveillance. Additionally, various efforts are ongoing to identify biomarkers that identify individuals at higher risk of cancer, possibly allowing for individual risk stratification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These new data highlight some of the opportunities to revise and improve surveillance in patients with Barrett's esophagus. The incorporation of new advances such as imaging techniques and biomarkers has the potential to improve the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of new surveillance regimens.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Technology Assessment, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Sung E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Chin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hur
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D003938:Diagnostic Techniques, Digestive System / Q000639:trends; D018450:Disease Progression; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor