The results of a new study show endoscopic mucosal resection before radiofrequency ablation is an effective and safe treatment option for patients with nodular Barrett's esophagus, according to a news release (pdf).
The study, which appears in the October issue of GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, also showed endoscopic mucosal resection before radiofrequency ablation is an effective treatment for advanced neoplasia.
"The performance of endoscopic mucosal resection before RFA was not associated with a diminished likelihood of success of therapy or an increased rate of stricture compared with those with advanced neoplasia undergoing RFA alone," according to the release.
It was a retrospective study conducted at the University of North Carolina Hospitals from 2006 to 2011. A total of 169 patients with Barrett's esophagus with advanced neoplasia were included in the study. The study's lead author is Nicholas Shaheen, MD, MPH, of University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
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