Early treatment may stave off esophageal cancer
Zapping precancerous tissue reduces number of people who get disease, study finds
By Nathan Seppa
People who have abnormal cell growth in the esophagus due to damage from acid reflux might benefit from a searing of the esophageal lining. Researchers find that promptly zapping aberrant tissue with a technique called radiofrequency ablation could forestall many cases from progressing to esophageal cancer.
Heartburn, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, can lead to changes in the tissues of the lower esophagus, a condition called Barrett’s esophagus. Doctors monitor Barrett’s patients because in some cases, precancerous cell growth called dysplasia results and sometimes dysplasia turns cancerous. The National Cancer Institute estimates about 18,000 new cases of esophageal cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year. The five-year survival rate for esophageal cancer patients is 17 percent in the United States.