A rise in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) cases and deaths showcases a need for noninvasive screening methods that can be performed by nonendoscopists, such as nurses or technicians, according to a presentation at the 2022 AGA Tech Summit that reviewed the new approaches. AGA's annual innovation summit is sponsored by the AGA Center for GI Innovation and Technology.
Mortality rates are high, because the cancer is usually found after obstructive symptoms. Screening for Barrett's esophagus (BE) and associated dysplasia could lead to earlier diagnosis and better prognoses, but endoscopic screening is costly and invasive, and few at-risk patients take advantage of it.
Some new approaches have the potential to screen more patients and detect earlier stages of disease, according to Prasad Iyer, MD, director of the esophageal interest group in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
The estimated rise in EAC ranges from 400% to 600% between 1975 and 2000. The 5-year survival of EAC hovers at around 20%. "Not only is the incidence increasing, but the mortality associated with the disease is also increasing at a similar pace," said Iyer during his presentation.
The only known precursor to EAC is BE, which has made the condition a focal point in screening.
