Barrett's Esophagus in Illinois

Most people notice no specific symptoms connected with the cellular modifications in Barrett’s esophagus. Many times, individuals who have Barrett’s esophagus may not notice any indications or signs.

In the event that you have had acid reflux or other forms of symptoms for prolonged periods of time in Illinois, our GI Alliance of Illinois physicians advise talking with and being tested with your digestive health specialist. The only sure way to diagnose if you have Barrett’s esophagus is to have a front-end endoscopy and take an exam of the tissue lining in your esophagus.

Some of the signs accompanying Barrett’s esophagus:

• Persistent heartburn (acid reflux)
• Having a hard time swallowing food or drinks
• A burning sensation in the chest (less common)

Intervention for Barrett’s esophagus at GI Alliance of Illinois is different from other GI afflictions. The specific care recommended corresponds with the degree of atypical cell presence, called dysplasia, in the esophageal lining.

The varying phases of dysplasia (abnormal cell development) and standard therapies in Illinois are:

• Non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus: While no precancerous tissue is found, it is still important to arrange routine endoscopy tests. This allows for your GI doctor to detect alterations to the esophageal tissues. We will also likely recommend therapies similar to those provided for gastroesophageal reflux disease. This involves behavioral modifications or prescription medication.
• Mild-grade dysplasia: With a small level of abnormal cell growth, you could need to receive endoscopic resection or radiofrequency ablation for treatment.
• High-grade dysplasia: For those who have a larger amount of precancerous esophageal lining, cryotherapy, photodynamic therapy, or esophagectomy might be needed.