Sensitivity and specificity of endoscopy in diagnosis for Barrett's esophagus

Lack of precise diagnostic criteria and sufficient findings in support of biopsy sampling during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is one of the special challenge in endoscopy assessment in Barrett's esophagus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mucosa in the distal esophagus tissues through a biopsy during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in gastroesophogeal reflux disease patients whose symptoms dont improve or only partially resolve with treatment. A cross-sectional study was done in patients with gastroesophogeal reflux disease medically resistant to treatment. The patients were assessed by gastroenterology department in Sina Hospital, Tehran, Iran, since September 2012 to September 2013. Patients with coagulopathy, esophageal varicose, esophageal cancer, earlier detection of developing Barrett's esophagus, history of irritable bowel syndrome, psychological disorders and using of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, were excluded. Esophageal squamous epithelium and cylindrical tissue of stomach was carefully checked by endoscope. Then 2 to 4 biopsy of the Z-line above the gastroesophageal mucosa were obtained. One hundred and fifty three patients included 78 men (51%) and 75 females (49%) with a mean age of 47.92±17.57 years participated in the study. The mean of body mass index of patients was 25.05±4.17 kg/m2 and body mass index in 45.8 % of the patients more than 230 kg/m2. Biopsy specimens were taken in 31 cases were not enough for histological examination. In other patients, 25 cases (20.5%) were normal and 97 cases (79.5%) had the following pathological diagnosis: mild esophagitis (49 cases; 40.2%), moderate esophagitis (24 cases; 19.7%), severe esophagitis (14 cases; 11.5%), Barrett's esophagus (8 cases, 6.5%), fungal esophagitis (1 cases, 0.8%), and eosinophilic esophagitis (1 cases; 0.8%). 117 patients (76.5%) had H. pylori infection. Sensitivity and specifity of endoscopy for detection of Barrett's esophagus during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were 100% and 84.13% (CI 95%:78.53-89.09%), respectively. Our data showed that doing of accurate and adequate biopsy samples from lesions in upper GI endoscopy can be helpful in the diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus