Symptoms, Diagnosis and Classification of Barrett’s Esophagus
Barrett’s esophagus is usually not accompanied by any symptoms. However, since the condition is mostly caused by GERD, most people will experience frequent heartburn.
It is important to contact your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Having difficulty swallowing
- Passing black, tarry, or bloody stools [3]
- Vomiting blood, or vomit that resembles coffee grounds
- Having chest pain [4]
Your healthcare provider may recommend an endoscopy if you experience symptoms of Barrett’s esophagus. An endoscopy is a procedure that uses an endoscope, or a tube with a little camera and light on it to observe the cells in your esophagus.
A normal esophagus should look pink and shiny. So, your doctor will check your esophagus to make sure it is pink and shiny. In Barrett’s esophagus, the esophagus may look velvety and red. Your doctor may also examine the tissue sample for dysplasia, or the presence of abnormal cells. The tissue sample will be observed based on these changes:
- No dysplasia: No visible cell abnormalities
- Low grade dysplasia: Small amount of cell abnormalities
- High grade dysplasia: Large amount of cell abnormalities and cells that may develop into cancer.