John Dumot, DO, division chief of gastroenterology at UH Ahuja Medical Center in Beachwood, Ohio, published a report in Gastroenterology and Hepatology on the possible benefits of cryotherapy on Barrett's esophagus, as reported by Pharmacy Times.
Here are three insights:
1. One treatment option for patients showing precancerous changes in the esophagus is a procedure in which abnormal cells are frozen using liquid nitrogen. During the procedure a specialized catheter is inserted into the patient to place -320 degree Fahrenheit liquid nitrogen to the esophagus.
2. Dr. Dumot estimated cryotherapy's efficacy to be around 80 percent for eradicating high-grade dysplasia, 75 percent for eradicating all dysplasia and 50 percent for removing all intestinal metaplasia.
3. Dr. Dumot reported in 2013 that roughly 63 centers offered cryotherapy, but he maintained that the technology was spreading among therapeutic gastroenterologists.