Esophageal cancer risk associated with the condition known as Barrett's esophagus may be lower than scientists previously thought.
A long-term study published online this week in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute followed 8,500 patients in Northern Ireland who were diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus.
The patients diagnosed with the premalignant condition underwent endoscopies, the insertion of a long tube with a camera into the esophagus, which enables doctors to check for abnormalities.
During a period of about seven years, 79 of the 8,500 patients were diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Gastric cardia cancer-- part of the stomach closest to the esophagus-- was diagnosed in 16 patients, and 36 developed precancerous high-grade dysplasia.
Earlier studies had the overall combined incidence rate for those three conditions as 0.58 percent and 3 percent annually. This newest study puts the rate at the much lower 0.22 percent each year.
The findings suggest that the recommended routine cancer screenings for those with Barrett's esophagus may not actually be all that necessary.
"It emphasizes the need to not only identify those with who have Barrett's esophagus but also to then identify those who will go on to possibly develop cancer, since most will not," said Dr. Sharmila Anandasabapathy, medical director of endoscopy at New York's Mount Sinai Medical Center, to US News. "We can then create a more selective approach to the 1 to 2 percent of Americans who have Barrett's."
The study also found that people were at greater risk for the cancer between 50 and 80 years of age. Men were more likely than women to progress to cancer.
Hopefully doctors will be able to use the data to judge the risk of cancer more personally and accurately.
