| Theme |
GERD in Clinical Practice 2018 -- Current Status and Issues |
| Title |
Endoscopic Diagnosis of GERD |
| Author |
Daisuke Asaoka |
Department of Gastroenterology, Juntendo Tokyo Koto Geriatric Medical Center |
| Author |
Tsutomu Takeda |
Department of Gastroenterology, Juntendo Tokyo Koto Geriatric Medical Center |
| Author |
Akihito Nagahara |
Department of Gastroenterology, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital |
| [ Summary ] |
A change/westernization of lifestyle and a reduction in the Helicobacter pylori infection rate has triggered an increase in the number of patients presenting with reflux esophagitis in our country. There is growing concern regarding the increased incidence/prevalence of Barrett's esophagus and Barrett's adenocarcinoma (known complications of reflux esophagitis). However, the definition of esophagogastric junction, which is important to establish an endoscopic diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus differs in our country from that accepted in the West. Lately, the Prague classification has been proposed for the standardization of the endoscopic diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus. The number of patients diagnosed with Barrett's adenocarcinoma is lower in our country than that observed in the West. Moreover, most Japanese patients with Barrett's esophagus present with short‒segment Barrett's esophagus (SSBE). Therefore, detailed observation of Barrett's esophagus, particularly in patients presenting with SSBE using image enhancement endoscopes represented by Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) will become important in the future. |