In Other Journals

Intestinal metaplasia of the oesophagus (Barrett’s oesophagus) is associated with an increased risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma through the development of epithelial dysplasia. In a randomised controlled trial involving 127 patients, researchers in the United States have found that radiofrequency ablation of dysplastic Barrett’s oesophagus was successful in achieving a high rate of eradication of the abnormality, along with a reduced risk of disease progression. The authors caution that the results must be interpreted in relation to the grade of severity of oesophageal dysplasia, which has varying risk of progression to cancer. They also comment on potential side effects, including oesophageal stricture, and suggest the need for cost–benefit analyses.