Definition & Facts for Barrett’s Esophagus

In this section:

• What is Barrett’s esophagus?
• How common is Barrett’s esophagus?
• Who is more likely to develop Barrett’s esophagus?
• What are the complications of Barrett’s esophagus?

What is Barrett’s esophagus?

Barrett’s esophagus is a condition in which the lining of your esophagus changes. The tissue that lines your esophagus becomes more like the tissue that lines your intestine. If you have Barrett’s esophagus, you may have a higher risk of developing cancer of the esophagus.

How common is Barrett’s esophagus?

Barrett’s esophagus is more common in the United States than in other countries.

The number of people in the United States with Barrett’s esophagus has increased in recent years. Researchers estimate about 5% of adults in the United States have Barrett’s esophagus. Barrett’s esophagus affects about 1% of people worldwide.1

Who is more likely to develop Barrett’s esophagus?

You are more likely to develop Barrett’s esophagus if you

• have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• are male
• are White
• are age 50 or older
• use tobacco
• have excess weight around your waist
• have a family history of Barrett’s esophagus or esophageal cancer

What are the complications of Barrett’s esophagus?

People with Barrett’s esophagus are more likely to develop cancer in their esophagus. Before this cancer develops, abnormal cells appear in the Barrett’s tissue, or the tissue that has changed to become more like the lining of the intestine. This condition is called dysplasia.

Doctors classify dysplasia as low grade or high grade, depending on how the cells look under a microscope.

Most people with Barrett’s esophagus do not develop cancer. People with high-grade dysplasia are more likely to develop esophageal cancer than those with low-grade dysplasia or no dysplasia.

You may have Barrett’s esophagus for many years before cancer develops.

Reference

[1] Sharma P. Barrett esophagus: a review. JAMA. 2022;328(7):663–671. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.13298

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