Recurrent intestinal metaplasia after radiofrequency ablation for Barrett's esophagus: endoscopic findings and anatomic location

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a safe and effective treatment for Barrett's esophagus (BE) that results in high rates of complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia (CEIM). However, recurrence is common after CEIM, and surveillance endoscopy is recommended. Neither the anatomic location nor the endoscopic appearance of these recurrences is well-described.

Objective: Describe the location of histologic specimens positive for recurrence after CEIM and the testing performance of endoscopic findings for the histopathologic detection of recurrence.

Design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: Single referral center.

Patients: A total of 198 patients with BE with at least 2 surveillance endoscopies after CEIM.

Interventions: RFA, EMR, surveillance endoscopy.

Main outcome measurements: The anatomic location and histologic grade of recurrence.

Results: In a mean 3.0 years of follow-up, 32 (16.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 11.0%-22.0%) patients had recurrence of disease, 5 (2.5%; 95% CI, 0.3%-4.7%) of whom progressed beyond their worst before-treatment histology. Recurrence was most common at or near the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ). Recurrence>1 cm proximal to the GEJ always was accompanied by endoscopic findings, and random biopsies in these areas detected no additional cases. The sensitivity of any esophageal sign under high-definition white light or narrow-band imaging for recurrence was 59.4% (42.4%, 76.4%), and the specificity was 80.6% (77.2%, 84.0%).

Limitations: Single-center study.

Conclusion: Recurrent intestinal metaplasia often is not visible to the endoscopist and is most common near the GEJ. Random biopsies>1 cm above the GEJ had no yield for recurrence. In addition to biopsy of prior EMR sites and of suspicious lesions, random biopsies oversampling the GEJ are recommended.