Endoscopy and Barrett's Esophagus: Current Perspectives in the US and Japan

Abstract

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a precancerous disease that can lead to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Recently, the incidence of EAC arising from BE has been increasing, and EAC has now become a threat in many countries. However, there are many gaps among the various countries in terms of definitions and concepts and these gaps prevent discussing BE on the same footing. In order to eradicate BE, it is a global necessity to fill in these remaining gaps. We focused on the gaps and reviewed recent evidence and trends as well as the background of gaps between the US and Japan as two of the leading countries in the field of medical research. We also review the rapid advances in endoscopic techniques in relation to both diagnosis and therapy that are considered to be useful to eliminate the gaps between countries.

Accuracy of Preoperative Endoscopy in Determining Tumor Location Required for Surgical Planning for Esophagogastric Junction Cancer

“…Barrett’s esophagus is a premalignant condition often associated with EGJ cancer and responsible for its development [ 1 ]. Endoscopic diagnosis that focuses on fine mucosal patterns and capillary patterns using an NBI magnifying endoscope is already established [ 31 , 32 , 33 ]. Defining the EGJ line as the distal margin is important for estimating the segment that extends to the lower esophagus.…”