High recurrence rate of Barrett's epithelium during long-term follow-up after argon plasma coagulation

Abstract

So far, it is still not proven whether coagulation-induced squamous regeneration reduces the risk of Barrett's carcinoma. Furthermore, the high relapse rate, the procedure-related risk, and the high costs incurred preclude the routine use of APC for the treatment of non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus. The different recurrence rates between published studies may be due to technical differences and PPI schedule. We suggest that optimal conditions for the procedure must be defined before further studies are undertaken.