Barrett's Esophagus

Barrett's Esophagus

By Dr. Keith Moore, DO

Florida Hospital East Orlando now offers a treatment option for patients with Barrett's esophagus, a precancerous condition caused by chronic acid reflux disease or GERD. Keith Moore, DO performed the first radiofrequency ablation of Barrett's esophagus at East Orlando. Barrett's esophagus occurs when severe acid reflux, or GERD, causes the cells lining the esophagus to undergo genetic change that can set the stage for cancer development.

Barrett's esophagus has traditionally been managed with frequent endoscopic biopsy surveillance. An alternative and more proactive treatment is through the use of ablation, which is the use of electrical energy to remove the diseased layer of cells from the esophagus. This option eliminates the disease before it has an opportunity to progress to cancer. The ablation procedure is performed in an outpatient setting without any incisions necessary. Now that the technology is available to treat Barrett's esophagus before it progresses to cancer, there is an opportunity to improve the quality of life for any patient who is living with Barrett's esophagus.