Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS:

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is commonly used to treat Barrett's esophagus (BE). We assessed the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) after RFA, factors associated with the development of EAC, and EAC-specific and all-cause mortality.

METHODS:

We collected data on outcomes of patients who underwent RFA for BE from July, 2007 through July, 2011 from the US multi-center RFA Patient Registry. Patients were followed until July, 2014. Kaplan-Meier curves of EAC incidence were stratified by baseline histology. Crude EAC incidence and mortality (all-cause and EAC-specific) were calculated, and adjusted all-cause mortality was assessed. Logistic regression models were constructed to assess predictors of EAC and all-cause mortality.

RESULTS:

Among 4982 patients, 100 (2%) developed EAC (7.8/1000 person-years (PY)) and 9 patients (0.2%) died of EAC (0.7/1000 PY) in a mean 2.7±1.6 years. The incidence of EAC in non-dysplastic BE was 0.5/1000 PY. Overall, 157 patients (3%) died during follow-up (all-cause mortality, 11.2/1000 PY). On multi-variate logistic regression, baseline BE length (odds ratio, 1.1/cm) and baseline histology (odds ratios, 5.8 and 50.3 for low-grade dysplasia and high-grade dysplasia [HGD] respectively) predicted EAC incidence. Among 9 EAC deaths, 6 (67%) had baseline HGD and 3 (33%) had baseline intra-mucosal EAC. The most common causes of death were cardiovascular (15%) and extra-esophageal cancers (15%). No deaths were associated with RFA.

CONCLUSION:

Based on analysis of a multicenter registry of patients who underwent RFA of BE, less than 1% died from EAC. The incidence of EAC was markedly lower in this study than in other studies of disease progression, with the greatest absolute benefit observed in patients with HGD.

Cet article souligne une fois de plus l’intérêt de la poursuite de la surveillance endoscopique prolongée après radiofréquence oesophagienne.