A new study reveals inflammation might play a role in the progression from reflux to esophageal cancer, according to a news release.
The study was published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the journal of the American Gastroenterological Association.
The study's researchers looked at almost 34,000 patients with reflux disease. They found more than 26,000 of the patients had erosive reflux disease and 37 subsequently developed esophageal cancer. The incidence of esophageal cancer among these patients with erosive reflux disease was significantly greater than what is expected for the general population, according to the new release.
"Our research shows that damage to the esophageal lining that can be seen with endoscopy is important in the progression from normal cells to cancer, and Barrett's esophagus is likely to be an intermediate step," said Rune Erichsen, MD, of Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark and lead author of this study, in the release.
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