Barrett’s esophagus is the premalignant condition for esophageal adenocarcinoma, characterized by transformation of the normal squamous lining of the esophagus to columnar epithelium.
Risk factors for BE include older age, male sex, white race, long-standing gastroesophageal reflux disease, positive family history, and tobacco smoking. Given the risk for malignant transformation, early identification of BE-related neoplasia is essential because these lesions can harbor cancer, which may be curable if identified early. With advances in endoscopic visualization and interventions, detection and characterization of both BE and BERN have improved significantly.