Question

Briefly describe the pathophysiology of Barrett’s esophagus.

Answer 1

Pathophysiology of Barrett's esophagus:

1. The pathophysiology of Barrett's esophagus is normal esophageal cells are replaced with abnormal cells.

2.It is caused by long standing gastro-esophageal reflux disease(GERD) causes stomach contents to back into the esophagus.

3. So Barrett's esophagus will develop which may progress to adenocarcinoma which is a type of esophageal cancer.

4. Oesophagus is lined with squamous mucosa i.e. clear that for to develop adenocarcinoma.

5.The sequence of events leads to transformation of the normal squamous mucosa into columnar epithelium.

6.Initially it starts with gastroesophageal reflux with develop of continued injury metastatic columnar epithelium.

7.It is a chronic injury produced by repetitive episodes of gastric juice reflexing onto the normal squamous mucosa.

8.Thereby development of cardiac mucosa from normal squamous mucosa and slowly development of goblet cells which indicates intestinal metastasis and progress to low and high grade dysplasia to adenocarcinoma.

9.This is called as Barrett's metaplasia-dysplasia carcinoma sequence. This is the pathophysiology of Barrett's esophagus.