Histology of metaplasia and dysplasia in Barrett's esophagus

Abstract

The histologic diagnosis of Barrett's dysplasia requires the identification of intestinal metaplasia, which often presents a challenge due to sampling error, observer variation, and difficulty in histologic interpretation. Particularly problematic is the separation of negative, indefinite, and low-grade dysplasia, the varied histological appearances of high-grade dysplasia, and the diagnosis of suboptimal biopsy material. This article seeks to aid in the histological evaluation of metaplasia and dysplasia in Barrett's esophagus.