Barrett’s esophagus. Caused by chronic heartburn or GERD
Treatment for Barrett’s Esophagus
Abbott Northwestern Hospital’s Virginia Piper Cancer Institute today announced the availability of a new tool to treat Barrett’s esophagus.
Barrett’s esophagus is a precancerous condition affecting the lining of the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food, liquids and saliva from the mouth to the stomach and is caused by chronic heartburn or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
. Approximately two million U.S. adults have been diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus, and studies show the number may be much higher.
If left untreated, Barrett’s esophagus can lead to a dangerous type of cancer called esophageal adenocarcinoma, which is currently the most rapidly rising cancer in the United States.
For the first time, a proactive approach to treating Barrett’s esophagus is available through Abbott Northwestern’s new Esophageal/Gastric Cancer Program. Abbott Northwestern is offering the Halo360 system, which removes Barrett’s esophagus and allows the growth of new, healthy cells.
GERD affects 50 percent of the U.S. population monthly and 20 percent weekly. Barrett’s esophagus occurs when acid exposure causes the protective cells lining the esophagus to break down and undergo genetic changes that set the stage for cancer.
There are few treatment options for Barrett’s esophagus sufferers.
An endoscopic surveillance procedure every one to three years to monitor the progression of the disease is the most common approach to Barrett’s.
The lifetime risk of developing cancer for a patient with Barrett’s is similar to the risk of developing colon cancer for a patient with a colon polyp, which is removed immediately upon diagnosis.
