Barrett's Esophagus in St. Louis, MO

Most people do not present symptoms connected with the tissue change in Barrett’s esophagus. Many times, people who have this GI condition may not show any signs or symptoms.

When you have been experiencing heartburn or other similar troubles for extended amounts of time, the Specialists in Gastroenterology specialists recommend being seen by a professional to be tested for this condition. The only sure way to establish if you have Barrett’s esophagus is to do an upper endoscopy and test a sample of cells from your esophagus.

Among the symptoms connected with Barrett’s esophagus are:

• Unyielding heartburn (acid reflux)
• Trouble swallowing
• A burning sensation in the chest (less common)

Care for Barrett’s esophagus differs from other gastrointestinal issues. The particular attention you receive is based on the stage of precancerous tissue presence, referred to as dysplasia, existing in the esophageal lining.

The multiple stages of dysplasia (abnormal cell formation) and potential solutions our St. Louis, MO providers may recommend include:

• No dysplasia: Although no precancerous cells are detected, it is still essential to set up regular endoscopic testing with your GI specialist to look for alterations to the cells in the esophagus. Your specialist will also typically recommend care similar to those who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (such as lifestyle modifications or medication).
• Mild-grade dysplasia: With a small amount of atypical tissue formation, you could expect to receive endoscopic mucosal resection or RF ablation for removal.
• Severe dysplasia: For those with a larger amount of precancerous esophageal lining, freezing treatments, light-based therapy, or esophagectomy might be necessary.