Barrett’s esophagus: Review of natural history and comparative efficacy of endoscopic and surgical therapies

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is the precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Progression to cancer typically occurs in a stepwise fashion through worsening dysplasia and ultimately, invasive neoplasia. Established EAC with deep involvement of the esophageal wall and/or metastatic disease is invariably associated with poor long-term survival rates. This guides the rationale of surveillance of Barrett’s in an attempt to treat lesions at an earlier, and potentially curative stage. The last two decades have seen a paradigm shift in management of Barrett’s with rapid expansion in the role of endoscopic eradication therapy (EET) for management of dysplastic and early neoplastic BE, and there have been substantial changes to international consensus guidelines for management of early BE based on evolving evidence. This review aims to assist the physician in the therapeutic decision-making process with patients by comprehensive review and summary of literature surrounding natural history of Barrett’s by histological stage, and the effectiveness of interventions in attenuating the risk posed by its natural history. Key findings were as follows. Non-dysplastic Barrett’s is associated with extremely low risk of progression, and interventions cannot be justified. The annual risk of cancer progression in low grade dysplasia is between 1%-3%; EET can be offered though evidence for its benefit remains confined to highly select settings. High-grade dysplasia progresses to cancer in 5%-10% per year; EET is similarly effective to and less morbid than surgery and should be routinely performed for this indication. Risk of nodal metastases in intramucosal cancer is 2%-4%, which is comparable to operative mortality rate, so EET is usually preferred. Submucosal cancer is associated with nodal metastases in 14%-41% hence surgery remains standard of care, except for select situations.     

Animal Models of Barrett's Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma–Past,Present, and Future

Esophageal adenocarcinoma is the fastest rising cancer in the United States. It develops from long‐standing gastroesophageal reflux disease which affects >20% of the general population. It carries a very poor prognosis with 5‐year survival <20%. The disease is known to sequentially progress from reflux esophagitis to a metaplastic precursor, Barrett''s esophagus and then onto dysplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma. However, only few patients with reflux develop Barrett''s esophagus and only a minority of these turn malignant. The reason for this heterogeneity in clinical progression is unknown. To improve patient management, molecular changes which facilitate disease progression must be identified. Animal models can provide a comprehensive functional and anatomic platform for such a study. Rats and mice have been the most widely studied but disease homology with humans has been questioned. No animal model naturally simulates the inflammation to adenocarcinoma progression as in humans, with all models requiring surgical bypass or destruction of existing antireflux mechanisms. Valuable properties of individual models could be utilized to holistically evaluate disease progression. In this review paper, we critically examined the current animal models of Barrett''s esophagus, their differences and homologies with human disease and how they have shaped our current understanding of Barrett''s carcinogenesis.     

Barrett食管及相关并发症的X线探讨

目的:通过16例经内窥镜及病理证实为Barrett食管的钡餐检查表现,初步探讨Barrett食管及其并发症放射学检查的意义。方法:回顾性分析16例Barrett食管的内窥镜和气钡检查的记录及表现,着重探讨气钡检查的X线表现。结果:食管内窥镜和组织学检查全部病例均有炎症改变,其他可见胃食管反流、食管溃疡和食管腺癌。放射学钡餐检查结果:Barrett食管炎4例,Barrett食管溃疡7例,Barrett食管癌5例。结论:Barrett食管及其并发症至今无明确放射学征象,改进对“Z”线的检查技术和方法,有可能提高其发现率。钡餐发现胃食管反流、食管裂孔疝同时并发食管炎、食管溃疡及食管癌者均应考虑到本症的可能。     

MEBO治疗口腔、咽、食管烧伤临床观察

目的:探讨口腔、咽、食管烧伤的治疗方法。方法:对2000年3月-2005年12月,采取口服湿润烧伤膏(MEBO)治疗的25例患者进行回顾性资料总结。结果:25例病人均治愈,无创面感染、食管狭窄、腹泻等并发症。结论:MEBO对口腔、咽、食管等上消化道部位黏膜烧伤疗效确切,方法简单易行。     

食管鳞癌中肿瘤微血管密度的临床意义

目的　研究分析食管癌组织中肿瘤微血管密度 (MVD)的临床意义。方法　采用免疫组化的方法检测4 5例食管鳞癌根治性切除术后的肿瘤组织中的肿瘤微血管密度 ,应用SPSS统计软件分析肿瘤MVD与食管鳞癌临床病理参数及预后的关系。结果　本组病例中 ,肿瘤MVD平均值为 15 .5 8,中位值为 15。MVD水平与食管癌的肿瘤局部浸润程度、区域淋巴结转移及TNM分期有关 (P <0 .0 5 )。多血管型 (MVD >15 )病例的术后生存率低于少血管型 (MVD≤ 15 )病例 (P =0 .0 2 78)。Cox比例风险模型证实MVD水平是食管癌根治性切除病人预后的独立预测指标。结论　食管鳞癌的血管新生与癌肿进展程度有关 ,高MVD的食管鳞癌患者术后生存率明显低于低MVD的患者 ,其MVD水平可独立用于预测食管癌根治性切除病人的预后     

人食管不典型增生上皮与原位癌的计算机纹理分析研究

采用计算机图象纹理分析和相关点阵检测技术,对人食管正常粘膜、不典型增生上皮及原位癌的不同纹理特征进行了观察。观察样品为常规病理切片,用计算机图象分析系统检测了组织的纹理特征。对受检图象建立了三种灰色分层关系矩阵,同时计算了8种纹理测度。结果显示,在重度不典型增生上皮和原位癌之间,其纹理测度和相关点阵检测数据均有显著性差异(P<0.05)。全部测量数据经计算机多元逐步判别分析,其正判率达90%以上。本研究结果表明,计算机纹理分析方法可正确地判别食管癌前病变和原位癌的组织结构异型性。提示本技术在食管癌的早期诊断方面具有肯定的实用性价值。     

食管高密度异物(鱼刺)的CT诊断

目的探讨CT在食管异物诊断中的应用价值方法食管异物10例(均为鱼刺),均行常规CT平扫,必要时加CT薄层扫描,再将CT征象与手术及内镜结果比较结果10例食管异物(鱼刺)均为CT所显示,呈大小、形态不一的稍高或高密度影,其中合并食管出血2例,黏膜下血肿1例,脓肿3例及脓胸1例结论常规CT扫描及薄层扫描在食管异物检查中具有重要意义     

降气化痰理血法治疗食管重建术后食管炎62例

目的:观察降气化痰理血法治疗食管重建术后全食管炎的疗效.方法:降气化痰理血法治疗食管重建术后食管炎62例(治疗组),并与西药治疗56例(对照组)作对照.结果:两组疗效比较差异有显著性意义(P<0.05),治疗组总有效率87.1%;治疗组临床主要症状改善明显;纤维内镜显示食管粘膜炎性改善,两组Ⅱ期、Ⅲ期比较差异都具有显著性意义(P<0.05).结论:降气化痰理血中药具有缓解和消除临床症状,改善食管粘膜炎性状况,具有抗炎,抗胃肠反流和提高机体术后恢复能力.     

Infusion manometry and detection of sphincteric function of crural diaphragm

The principles of infusion manometry in the measurement of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure were laid down in the mid-1960s by L.D. Harris and his coworkers. Dodds and his colleagues were largely responsible for the improvements and advent of the low-compliance manometry. Using side-hole manometry, it is possible to detect accurate LES pressure that correlates with the strength of the antireflux barrier. The LES pressure as measured by the side-hole manometry, shows respiration-induced pressure oscillations. These pressure oscillations were initially thought to be due to the influence of abdominal and thoracic pressures on the LES. However, it was later pointed out that these pressure oscillations were due to the relative motion of the point pressure sensor (side hole of the manometric catheter) and the LES during respiration. Recent studies suggest that active contraction of the crural diaphragm during inspiration is responsible for the pressure oscillations observed in the cat LES pressure tracings. The use of the sleeve device in the measurement of LES pressure during contraction of the diaphragm has been described recently. Using the principles of manometry and sleeve device, it is now possible to identify two lower esophageal sphincters: the smooth muscle LES, traditionally known as the LES, and crural diaphragm, which we have referred to as the external lower esophageal sphincter. The purpose of the following paper is to summarize the general principles of the infusion manometry in the measurement of intraluminal pressure, specifically the LES pressure. The recently developed technique of detection of the sphincteric function of the crural diaphragm by the sleeve device will be discussed. In the last paragraph the limitations of manometry in detection of the muscular contractile activity are described.