High Risk of Malignancy in Familial Barrett's Esophagus:... : Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology (original) (raw)

ALIMENTARY TRACT: Case Report

Presentation of One Family

Munitiz, Vicente MD, PhD*; Parrilla, Pascual MD, PhD*; Ortiz, Angeles MD, PhD*; Martinez-de-Haro, Luisa F. MD, PhD*; Yelamos, Jose MD*; Molina, Joaquin MD†

Departments of *Surgery

†Endoscopy, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, Murcia, Spain

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The authors confirm that there is no financial arrangement with companies that are mentioned in the manuscript.

Reprints: Vicente Munitiz, MD, Servicio de Cirugía General, 3a planta, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Ctra. Cartagena s/n, El Palmar 30120, Murcia, Spain (e-mail: [email protected]).

Received for publication September 15, 2006; accepted December 22, 2006

Abstract

Barrett's esophagus is an acquired condition fundamentally related to the presence of severe and prolonged pathologic acid and biliary gastro-esophageal reflux. However, genetic factors may also play a role in some cases. The aim of this study is to present 3 generations of a Spanish family with the largest number of members so far reported with Barrett's esophagus or esophageal adenocarcinoma. Of the 24 members of this family studied over 3 generations, 6 patients developed esophageal adenocarcinoma, 4 Barrett's esophagus, 6 clinical symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux disease without Barrett's esophagus, and 8 were asymptomatic. In conclusion, patients with familial Barrett's esophagus get the disease more severely with a high rate of malignancy and, therefore, the endoscopic surveillance should be closer than in cases of nonfamilial Barrett's esophagus.