Diagnosis and Management of Barrett’s Esophagus (beta)
Official guideline from American College of Gastroenterology.
Summary by Shawn Shah, MD & Adam Buckholz, MD
Strength of Recommendation
Strong
Moderate
Conditional
Weak
Level of Evidence
High
Moderate-high
Low
Very low
Diagnosis, screening, and surveillance
Diagnosis
Diagnose Barrett's esophagus with salmon-colored mucosa >1 cm proximal to the GEJ + intestinal metaplasia on biopsy
Strong recommendation
Low quality evidence
Do not biopsy a normal Z-line or Z-line with <1 cm variability
Strong recommendation
Low quality evidence
Describe extent of metaplasia using Prague C&M Criteria
Conditional recommendation
Low quality evidence
Characterize location of diaphragmatic hiatus, GEJ, and squamocolumnar junction
Conditional recommendation
Low quality evidence
If suspected BE, take >8 random biopsies; if short-segment (1-2 cm), take >4 biopsies per circumferential cm + 1 biopsy per cm in “tongues”
Conditional recommendation
Low quality evidence
If diagnosis not made despite visual BE appearance, consider repeat EGD in 1-2 years
Conditional recommendation
Very low quality evidence
Screening
Screen men with >5 years of weekly or more reflux symptoms (heartburn or regurgitation) + >2 risk factors (age >50, Caucasian, central obesity, current/former smoker, 1st degree family hx of BE/esophageal adenocarcinoma)
Strong recommendation
Moderate quality evidence
No routine screening recommended for women → lower risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma with chronic GER symptoms; consider screening if multiple risk factors
Strong recommendation
Low quality evidence
No routine screening recommended for the general population
Conditional recommendation
Low quality evidence
Prior to screening, discuss possible implications of positive screen
Strong recommendation
Very low quality evidence
Consider unsedated transnasal endoscopy as an alternative to EGD for BE screening
Conditional recommendation
Low quality evidence
If negative screening test, no need to repeat; if esophagitis (LA Class B, C, D), perform repeat EGD in 8-12 weeks after PPI therapy to evaluate for BE
Conditional recommendation
Low quality evidence
Surveillance
Discuss risks/benefits of surveillance prior to initiation
Strong recommendation
Very low quality evidence
Survey with HD/high-resolution white light endoscopy
Strong recommendation
Low quality evidence
Other imaging techniques not recommended for BE surveillance
Conditional recommendation
Very low quality evidence
If prior dysplasia→ 4-quadrant bx at 1 cm intervals; if no prior dysplasia→ 4-quadrant bx at 2 cm intervals
Strong recommendation
Low quality evidence
Sample mucosal abnormalities separately, with endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) preferred; if BE with nodularity, refer to tertiary center for EMR
Strong recommendation
Low quality evidence
Do not biopsy areas of esophagitis until healed with PPI therapy
Strong recommendation
Very low quality evidence
Diagnosis of BE with dysplasia must be reviewed by 2 pathologists (at least 1 GI-related)
Strong recommendation
Moderate quality evidence
Biomarker use for risk stratification is not recommended
Strong recommendation
Low quality evidence
If BE without dysplasia, survey every 3-5 years
Strong recommendation
Moderate quality evidence
If BE without dysplasia, no need to repeat EGD in 1 year for surveillance
Conditional recommendation
Very low quality evidence
In cases of indefinite biopsy for dysplasia, repeat EGD after 3-6 mos of acid suppression, then yearly if indefinite for dysplasia confirmed
Strong recommendation
Low quality evidence
If BE with low-grade dysplasia, endoscopic therapy preferred over yearly surveillance
Strong recommendation
Moderate quality evidence
If BE with high-grade dysplasia, proceed with endoscopic therapy unless life-threatening illness
Strong recommendation
High quality evidence
Therapy
Chemoprevention
Use daily PPI for all patients with BE; can use BID PPI if uncontrolled reflux symptoms
Strong recommendation
Moderate quality evidence
Antineoplastic and chemopreventive strategies including ASA/NSAIDs not recommended
Conditional recommendation
High quality evidence
Endoscopic
If nodular mucosa, perform EMR using histology to guide further therapy decisions
Strong recommendation
High quality evidence
Residual neoplasia should be assumed if neoplasia present at a deep margin post-EMR → surgical, systemic or additional endoscopic therapy should be considered
Strong recommendation
Low quality evidence
No role for routine endoscopic ablative therapies for nondysplastic BE → low-risk of progression to esophageal adenocarcinoma
Strong recommendation
Very low quality evidence
If T1a esophageal adenocarcinoma, endoscopic ablative therapy preferred
Strong recommendation
Moderate quality evidence
If T1b esophageal adenocarcinoma, multidisciplinary surgical oncology input recommended prior to endoscopic therapy; endoscopic therapy may be considered if superficial (sm1) disease without lymphovascular invasion
Strong recommendation
Low quality evidence
If nodular BE, no benefit to staging with other modalities (i.e., EUS) prior to endoscopic mucosal resection
Strong recommendation
Moderate quality evidence
If T1b esophageal adenocarcinoma, EUS may have a role in sampling regional lymph nodes
Strong recommendation
Moderate quality evidence
If nonnodular dysplastic BE, radiofrequency ablation preferred
Strong recommendation
Moderate quality evidence
Endoscopic eradication therapy
Endoscopists who plan to practice ablative procedures should offer EMR
Strong recommendation
Very low quality evidence
Management after endoscopy
After complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia (CEIM), continue interval surveillance
Strong recommendation
Low quality evidence
If high grade dysplasia/intramucosal carcinoma with CEIM, survey with EGD every 3 mos x 1 year, then every 6 mos x 1 year, then annually
Conditional recommendation
Low quality evidence
If low grade dysplasia with CEIM, survey with EGD every 6 mos x 1 year, then annually
Conditional recommendation
Low quality evidence
Inspect tubular esophagus + GEJ closely for mucosal abnormalities during surveillance EGD
Strong recommendation
Low quality evidence
If recurrence of BE, treat the same as if primary disease
Strong recommendation
Low quality evidence
After CEIM, use medical therapy to control reflux symptoms or esophagitis
Conditional recommendation
Very low quality evidence
Surgical
Antireflux surgery not recommended for BE as antineoplastic therapy, but can be used as an adjunct to control reflux symptoms
Strong recommendation
High quality evidence
If EAC with submucosal invasion, esophagectomy + consideration of neoadjuvant therapy preferredAntireflux surgery not recommended for BE as antineoplastic therapy, but can be used as an adjunct to control reflux symptoms
Strong recommendation
Low quality evidence
Consider surgical and/or multimodality therapies for patients with T1a/T1b superficial EAC, poor differentiation, lymphovascular invasion, or incomplete EMR