ROCHESTER, Minn., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New Mayo Clinic research has found that survival rates of patients with Barrett's esophagus (http://www.mayoclinic.org/barretts-esophagus/), which can be a precursor for esophageal cancer, are no different than the survival rates for the general population. These findings were presented today at the 2009 American College of Gastroenterology (http://www.acg.gi.org/) (ACG) Annual Meeting in San Diego.
Barrett's esophagus is most often diagnosed in people who have long-term gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) -- a chronic regurgitation of acid from the stomach into the lower esophagus. A diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus can be concerning because it increases the risk of developing esophageal cancer.
In this study of 366 patients, the average patient age was 63 years, with 72 percent men and 18 percent women. All patients with a diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus from 1977-2006 were identified using the Rochester Epidemiology Project (http://mayoresearch.mayo.edu/mayo/research/rep/index.cfm) resources in Olmsted County and confirmed via review of medical records. Only patients from Olmsted County were selected to reduce referral and selection bias.
"Our population-based study found that Barrett's esophagus patients are at no greater risk of dying than the rest of the population," says Dr. Prasad. "Patients who receive this diagnosis should seek proper treatment and care, but should also know that their odds of dying from esophageal cancer are low."
Mayo Clinic's Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (http://www.mayoclinic.org/gi/) has been ranked No. 1 in the U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll of Top Hospitals since the rankings began 20 years ago.
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090105/MAYOLOGOMayo Clinic
