Barrett’s esophagus is an abnormal change of cells located in the lower esophagus, being one of the risk factors directly related to esophageal cancer.
The importance in the diagnosis and early treatment of this disease lies in being able to detect if we are facing an esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Groups at higher risk of suffering from Barrett’s esophagus
The risk factors associated with Barrett’s esophagus are:
- Advanced age
- Male sex
- White race
- Obesity
- Presence of chronic gastroesophageal reflux pathologic symptoms.
Occasionally, however, Barrett’s esophagus may occur even in the absence of these symptoms.
Treatment of Barrett’s esophagus
Endoscopic ablation with radiofrequency consists of the application of energy by means of bipolar electrodes, achieving rapid heating of the treated tissue to an established and reproducible depth.
This endoscopic procedure is generally performed by a specialist in the Digestive System on an outpatient basis and under deep anesthesia.
The possibility of recurrence of the disease after treatment is much lower compared to other ablation techniques that do not guarantee the same safety.
It is an effective and safe technique that can reduce the progression of dysplasia and cancer by a considerable percentage.
Cases in which endoscopic ablation with radiofrequency is recommended
Radiofrequency endoscopic ablation to treat Barrett’s esophagus is indicated if dysplasia is present and depending on the depth of involvement. In fact, the implementation of this technique has been preceded by a large amount of scientific evidence supporting its results.
Advantages of radiofrequency endoscopic ablation to treat Barrett’s esophagus
One of the advantages of radiofrequency endoscopic ablation in patients with dysplasia at risk of progressing to esophageal cancer is the low rate of complications compared to the standard treatment, esophagectomy, which consists of the removal of a proportion of the affected esophagus by surgery.