Endoscopic treatment of Barrett's epithelium with Argon Plasma Coagulation. Long-term follow-up.

Abstract

Our results confirm that APC can lead both to eradication of BE and the restoration of squamous epithelium. As recent reports indicated the persistence of SIM beneath the new epithelium and even a neoplastic growth (adenocarcinoma) in the treated area, despite APC, 2 questions have arisen: is APC unable to radically ablate BE or on the contrary are these findings due to defects of the ablative technique needing improvement? To settle more precise conclusions, further investigation with larger numbers of patients and for longer follow-up is required.