page_title: Barrett's esophagus
section_title: Diagnosis
hierarchical_section_title: Barrett's esophagus / Diagnosis
caption_attribution_description: Čeština: Barrettův jícen English: Micrograph of Barrett's esophagus (high magnification). Alican blue stain. The (simple columnar) metaplasic epithelium of Barrett's esophagus is characterized by goblet cells, which stain blue with alcian blue. Barrett's is associated with an increased risk of adenocarcinoma.
context_page_description: Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which there is an abnormal change in the mucosal cells lining the lower portion of the esophagus, from normal stratified squamous epithelium to simple columnar epithelium with interspersed goblet cells that are normally present only in the small intestine, and large intestine. This change is considered to be a premalignant condition because it is associated with a high incidence of further transition to esophageal adenocarcinoma, an often-deadly cancer.
  The main cause of Barrett's esophagus is thought to be an adaptation to chronic acid exposure from reflux esophagitis. Barrett's esophagus is diagnosed by endoscopy: observing the characteristic appearance of this condition by direct inspection of the lower esophagus; followed by microscopic examination of tissue from the affected area obtained from biopsy. The cells of Barrett's esophagus are classified into four categories: nondysplastic, low-grade dysplasia, high-grade dysplasia, and frank carcinoma. High-grade dysplasia and early stages of adenocarcinoma may be treated by endoscopic resection or radiofrequency ablation.
context_section_description: Both macroscopic (from endoscopy) and microscopic positive findings are required to make a diagnosis. Barrett's esophagus is marked by the presence of columnar epithelia in the lower esophagus, replacing the normal squamous cell epithelium—an example of metaplasia. The secretory columnar epithelium may be more able to withstand the erosive action of the gastric secretions; however, this metaplasia confers an increased risk of adenocarcinoma.
caption: High-magnification micrograph of Barrett's esophagus showing the characteristic goblet cells, Alcian blue stain
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