Question: How Is Barrett's Esophagus Treated?
Answer: Barrett's esophagus has no cure, no treatment to reverse it, short of surgical removal of the esophagus (esophagectomy), which is a serious operation. Surgery is recommended only for people who have a high risk of developing cancer or who already have it. Patients who have esophageal cancer that hasn't spread to other organs such as the liver and lungs, and are considered surgical candidates are usually offered surgical removal of the esophagus. Unfortunately, most patients are not diagnosed with an early cancer and have a large cancer when they see a doctor for problems with swallowing, bleeding, chest pain or weight loss.
Several different experimental approaches are under study. One attempts to see whether destroying the Barrett's tissue by heat or other means through an endoscope can eliminate the condition. This approach, however, has potential risks and unknown effectiveness.
