title: Intestinal metaplasia recurs infrequently in patients successfully treated for Barrett's esophagus with radiofrequency ablation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of Barrett's esophagus (BE) is safe and effective in eradicating dysplasia and intestinal metaplasia, and may reduce rates of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). We assessed rates of and risk factors for disease recurrence after successful treatment of BE with RFA.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who completed RFA for dysplastic BE or intramucosal carcinoma (IMC), achieved complete eradication of dysplasia (CE-D) or intestinal metaplasia (CE-IM), and underwent subsequent endoscopic surveillance at a single center. Rates of disease recurrence and progression were determined. Patients with and without recurrent disease were compared to determine risk factors for recurrence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and sixty-two subjects underwent RFA during the study period. Of these, 119 and 112 patients were retained in endoscopic surveillance after CE-D and CE-IM, respectively. Median observation time was 397 days (range: 54-1,668 days). Eight patients (7% of those with CE-IM) had recurrent disease after a median of 235 days (range 55-1,124 days). Progression to IMC (n=1) or EAC (n=2) occurred in three of these eight patients, all of whom had pre-ablation high-grade dysplasia (HGD). Five patients had recurrence of non-dysplastic BE (n=3), low-grade dysplasia (n=1), and HGD (n=1). During 155 patient-years of observation, recurrence occurred in 5.2%/year, and progression occurred in 1.9%/year. No clinical characteristics were associated with disease recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with BE and dysplasia or early cancer who achieved CE-IM, BE recurred in ≈ 5%/year. Patient characteristics did not predict recurrence. Subjects undergoing RFA for dysplastic BE should be retained in endoscopic surveillance.
authors.affiliation: Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing (CEDAS), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.|Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Eric S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Orman
authors.affiliation: Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing (CEDAS), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Hannah P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing (CEDAS), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.|Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Bulsiewicz
authors.affiliation: Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing (CEDAS), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Cary C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Cotton
authors.affiliation: Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing (CEDAS), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.|Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Evan S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Dellon
authors.affiliation: Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing (CEDAS), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.|Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Melissa B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Spacek
authors.affiliation: Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing (CEDAS), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Xiaoxin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing (CEDAS), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.|Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Ryan D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Madanick
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Sarina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pasricha
authors.affiliation: Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing (CEDAS), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.|Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Shaheen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D018450:Disease Progression; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008679:Metaplasia / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome