Surveillance endoscopy improves esophageal cancer outcomes in Barrett's esophagus patients: 3 insights

A new study, published in Gut, examined the effectiveness of surveillance endoscopy in patients with Barrett's esophagus for reducing esophageal adenocarcinoma-related mortality.

Researchers analyzed patients with BE, excluding those with conditions that affect overall survival, diagnosed from 2004 to 2009 at Veterans Affairs hospitals. Patients diagnosed with esophageal adenocarcinoma after BE diagnosis were identified through 2011.

Of the 29,536 patients with BE, 424 patients developed esophageal adenocarcinoma during a mean follow-up of five years.

Here are three insights:

1.  A total of 209 (49.3 percent) patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma were in BE surveillance programs and were diagnosed using surveillance endoscopy.

2. The surveillance endoscopy patients were more likely to be diagnosed at an early stage, survive longer and have lower cancer-related mortality than those diagnosed without surveillance endoscopy.

3. Surveillance endoscopy among patients with BE was associated with a decreased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma-related death.

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