Barrett's esophagus (BE) has come to be regarded as an impOliant premalignant condition. In recent years the incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and of the gastric cardia has risen dramatically. Analyses of cancer incidence data fi'om nine areas of the United States revealed steadily rising rates of adenocarcinomas of the esophagus and gastric cardia from 1976 to 1987. The increases among men in this period ranged from 4% to 10% per year, and exceeded those of any other type of cancer. The rate of esophageal adenocarcinoma in Denmark has increased eightfold over a 20-yr period. In the Netherlands the rate of cardiacarcinoma has increased 35%, and since the early 90's mainly (Barrett's related) adenocarcinomas ofthe esophagus have been on the rise (Ph.D. thesis "Adenocarcinoma of the gastro-oesophageal junction - From gene to clinic" pages 71-73, B.P.L Wijnhoven, 2001). The reasons for this alarming rise are not clear but many believe it to be a consequence of gastroesophageal-reflux disease (GERD) and BE. This has led to an increased interest in research on BE and GERD.

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Jansen-Cilag Iceland, Jansen-Cilag The Netherlands, AstraZeneca Iceland
J.H.P. Wilson (Paul)
Erasmus University Rotterdam
hdl.handle.net/1765/19974
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Gudlaugsdottir, S. (2002, May 15). Barrett's esophagus : high cancer-risk groups, cardiovascular co-morbidity and interaction with Helicobacter pylori. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/19974