Austrian expert panel recommendation for radiofrequency ablation of Barrett’s esophagus

Summary Background Barrett’s esophagus (BE) represents the premalignant manifestation of gastroesophageal reflux disease and includes columnar lined esophagus with intestinal metaplasia, low-grade dysplasia, high-grade dysplasia and cancer. Methods An Austrian panel of expert meeting was held at the Medical University Vienna, June 2015, to establish and define recommendations for the endoscopic treatment of BE with and without dysplasia and cancer. Recommendations are based on critical analysis of published evidence. Statistics were not applied. Results Diagnosis of cancer and dysplasia is to be reconfirmed by a second expert pathologist. Advanced cancer (> T1a) requires surgical resection ± adjuvant therapies. Treatment of T1a early cancer, high- and low-grade dysplasia should include endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA). In the presence of increased cancer risk, BE without dysplasia should be treated by RFA within clinical studies only. Elimination of any early cancer, dysplasia and IM defines complete response, that is, post RFA histopathology shows squamous, cardiac or oxyntocardiac mucosa lined esophagus ( Chandrasoma classification). Follow-up endoscopies are timed according to the base line histopathology. Down grade from cancer to dysplasia or from dysplasia to non-dysplastic BE defines partial response, respectively. Based on esophageal function testing, reflux is treated by medical or surgical therapy. Conclusion In Austria, RFA ± EMR is recommended for BE containing early cancer or dysplasia. Non-dysplastic BE with an increased cancer risk should be offered RFA within clinical trials to assess the efficacy for cancer prevention in this group of patients.