What is the Relationship Between Barrett's Esophagus and Cancer?
Barrett's esophagus is a known precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma. The metaplastic columnar cells in Barrett's esophagus can undergo further genetic changes, leading to dysplasia and eventually cancer. The risk of progression from Barrett's esophagus to esophageal adenocarcinoma is relatively low, estimated at about 0.5% per year, but it is significantly higher than in the general population.
