Barrett Esophagus: A Sequela of Chemotherapy
Authors: Stuart Jon Spechler
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1991)

Editorials1 February 1991Barrett Esophagus: A Sequela of ChemotherapyStuart Jon Spechler, MDStuart Jon Spechler, MDAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-114-3-243 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptIn the 1950s, the British surgeon Norman Barrett called attention to a peculiar condition in which the distal esophagus is lined by columnar mucosa rather than by squamous epithelium (1). Barrett originally deemed this a congenital disorder, but authorities now consider the columnar cell-lined (Barrett) esophagus an acquired condition (2). Barrett esophagus has been thought to develop as a result of severe gastroesophageal reflux disease in most cases. In this issue ofAnnals, Sartori and colleagues (3) present compelling evidence that Barrett epithelium can also be acquired as a sequela of chemotherapy. This observation has important implications regarding the pathogenesis...References1. Barrett N. The lower esophagus lined by columnar epithelium. Surgery. 1957;41:881-94. MedlineGoogle Scholar2. SpechlerGoyal SR. Barrett's esophagus. N Engl J Med. 1986;315:362-71. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. SartoriNielsenIndelliTrevisaniPazziGrandi SIMLPE. Barrett esophagus after chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (CMF): an iatrogenic injury? Ann Intern Med. 1991;114:210-211. LinkGoogle Scholar4. Hamilton S. Pathogenesis of columnar cell-lined (Barrett's) esophagus. In: Spechler SJ, Goyal RK, eds. Barrett's Esophagus: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management. New York: Elsevier Science; 1985:29-38. Google Scholar5. Adler R. The lower esophagus lined by columnar epithelium: its association with hiatal hernia, ulcer, stricture, and tumor. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1963;45:13-32. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. BremnerLynchEllis CVF. Barrett's esophagus: congenital or acquired? An experimental study of esophageal mucosal regeneration in the dog. Surgery. 1970;68:209-16. MedlineGoogle Scholar7. Trier J. Morphology of the columnar cell-lined (Barrett's) esophagus. In: Spechler SJ, Goyal RK, eds. Barrett's Esophagus: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management. New York: Elsevier Science; 1985:19-28. Google Scholar8. HassallWeinsteinAment EWM. Barrett's esophagus in childhood. Gastroenterology. 1985;89:1331-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. CooperSpitzWilkins JLB. Barrett's esophagus in children: a histologic and histochemical study of 11 cases. J Pediatric Surg. 1987;22:191-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. WesterveldPalsBosma BGA. Gastric proteases in Barrett's esophagus. Gastroenterology. 1987;93:774-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. GillenKeelingByrneWestHennessy PPPAT. Experimental columnar metaplasia in the canine oesophagus. Br J Surg. 1988;75:113-5. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar12. VariendHowat SA. Upper oesophageal gastric heterotopia: a prospective necropsy study in children. J Clin Pathol. 1988;41:742-5. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar13. Hayward J. The lower end of the oesophagus. Thorax. 1961;16:36-41. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar14. DahmsGrecoStrandjordRothstein BMSF. Barrett's esophagus in three children after antileukemia chemotherapy. Cancer. 1987;60:2896-900. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar15. Carl W. Oral manifestations of systemic chemotherapy and their management. Semin Surg Oncol. 1986;2:187-99. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar16. Spechler S. Endoscopic surveillance for patients with Barrett esophagus: does the cancer risk justify the practice? Ann Intern Med. 1987;106:902-4. LinkGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Stuart Jon Spechler, MDAffiliations: Beth Israel Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston, MA 02215 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byEsophageal Stenosis in ChildrenCOLUMNAR-LINED ESOPHAGUS IN CHILDRENCo-Morbidities in Childhood Barrett's EsophagusEpidemiology and molecular biology of Barrett's adenocarcinomaBarrett's EsophagusEndoscopic Assessment of Premalignant Esophageal DisordersBarrett's Esophagus 1 February 1991Volume 114, Issue 3Page: 243-244KeywordsChemotherapyCongenital disordersEpitheliumEsophagusGastroesophageal reflux diseaseMucous membranesPathogenesisSurgeons ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 February 1991 PDF downloadLoading ...