Article Text
Abstract
Objective Surveillance interval protocols after complete remission of intestinal metaplasia (CRIM) post radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in Barrett’s oesophagus (BE) are currently empiric and not based on substantial evidence. We aimed to assess the timeline, location and patterns of recurrence following CRIM to inform these guidelines.
Design Data on patients undergoing RFA for BE were obtained from prospectively maintained databases of five (three USA and two UK) tertiary referral centres. RFA was performed until CRIM was confirmed on two consecutive endoscopies.
Results 594 patients achieved CRIM as of 1 May 2017. 151 subjects developed recurrent BE over a median (IQR) follow-up of 2.8 (1.4–4.4) years. There was 19% cumulative recurrence risk of any BE within 2 years and an additional 49% risk over the next 8.6 years. There was no evidence of a clinically meaningful change in the recurrence hazard rate of any BE, dysplastic BE or high-grade dysplasia/cancer over the duration of follow-up, with an estimated 2% (95% CI −7% to 12%) change in recurrence rate of any BE in a doubling of follow-up time. 74% of BE recurrences developed at the gastro-oesophageal junction (GOJ) (24.1% were dysplastic) and 26% in the tubular oesophagus. The yield of random biopsies from the tubular oesophagus, in the absence of visible lesions, was 1% (BE) and 0.2% (dysplasia).
Conclusions BE recurrence risk following CRIM remained constant over time, suggesting that lengthening of follow-up intervals, at least in the first 5 years after CRIM, may not be advisable. Sampling the GOJ is critical to detecting recurrence. The requirement for random biopsies of the neosquamous epithelium in the absence of visible lesions may need to be re-evaluated.
- barrett’s oesophagus
- oesophageal cancer
- endoscopic procedures
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Footnotes
Contributors SSS: contributed to the design and coordination of the study, acquisition of data, analysis, interpretation of data, and drafted the manuscript. AR, AK, DS, JS, JO-s, WKT, MGH, MLJ, RL: contributed to the acquisition of data and critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content. RAD: contributed to the analysis, interpretation of data and critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content. KKW, CLL, DAK: contributed to the design of the study, interpretation of data and critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content. KR, MdP, HW, FR, DF: contributed to study supervision, interpretation of data and critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content. PGI: contributed to the conception, design and supervision of the study, acquisition of data, analysis, interpretation of data, and critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests PGI: research funding from Exact Sciences, C2 Therapeutics and Medtronic; consulting: C2 Therapeutics, CSA Medical and Symple Surgical.
Patient consent Not required.
Ethics approval The study was approved by the institutional review boards of the respective centres.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.