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An outpatient treatment
that destroys
precancerous tissue in the lining of the esoph-
agus is now available at Beaufort Memorial.
The procedure, endoscopic radio-fre-
quency ablation therapy, was recently fea-
tured in the
New England Journal of Medicine
as a highly effective treatment for complete
eradication of Barrett’s esophagus, a precan-
cerous condition that affects one to two mil-
lion adults in the United States each year.
According to John Crisologo, MD, one of
the gastroenterologists on the medical staff at
BMH, who are specially trained in the abla-
tion therapy, Barrett’s disease occurs when the
esophagus is chronically exposed to gastric
contents of the stomach caused by gastro-
esophageal reflux disease, commonly known
as GERD. With prolonged acid exposure,
normal cells in the esophagus can undergo
a genetic change and are then vulnerable to
further changes that can lead to cancer.
People with Barrett’s esophagus have a 40
to 130 times higher incidence of developing
esophageal cancer than those without the
condition. Esophageal is currently the fastest-
growing form of cancer in the United States.
“The main purpose of the ablation proce-
dure is to remove the abnormal lining of the
esophagus,” Dr. Crisologo says. “The tissue
then regenerates, and normal tissue grows
back. This eliminates or markedly reduces
the chances of cancer developing. Data from
studies shows that the treatment is highly ef-
fective. In fact, it looks very promising.”
The procedure is performed in an outpa-
tient setting, without incisions, and it takes
less than 30 minutes on average.
For a person with Barrett’s disease,
Dr. Crisologo says the risk of developing
esophageal cancer is similar to the risk of
developing colon cancer for patients who
have a colon polyp. However, unlike a colon
polyp—which is removed immediately upon
diagnosis through a colonoscopy—before
the availability of this new technology, the
standard treatment for Barrett’s disease was
“watchful waiting,” or surveillance to moni-
tor the progression of the disease.
“This new system provides uniform and
controlled ablative therapy, which not only
removes the abnormal cells but also allows for
regrowth of normal cells,” says Dr. Crisologo.
“It’s also easier to effectively treat patients
without injuring healthy underlying tissue.”
According to Dr. Crisologo, esophageal
cancer is often incurable because the disease
is frequently discovered in the advanced
stages. Esophageal cancer has a five-year
patient survival rate of just 16 percent.
“It usually starts with GERD, which can
cause Barrett’s disease, which can lead to
esophageal cancer,” says Dr. Crisologo. “That’s
why it’s important to seek medical treatment
for symptoms of GERD, the most common
being heartburn.”
New
treatment
lowers
risk of
esophageal
cancer
As Beaufort Memorial’s
Breast Program Leader,
Perry Burrus, MD, has a
big goal.
A board-certified
surgeon with a special
interest in breast care,
he has assembled a team
of experts from a variety
of specialties—oncology, radiology and
social services, to name a few—to evaluate
and create services that address the full-
est scope of a woman’s breast health needs
locally.
“We’ve developed an expectation among
ourselves and the women we serve to pro-
vide an outstanding level of breast
care, right here in our community,”
says Dr. Burrus, who is a part of Beaufort
Memorial Surgical Specialists.
The Women’s Imaging Center at BMH
allows women to move from screening to
diagnosis in the same day, if necessary,
and offers other services like bone density
screenings and a breast care coordinator—
a sort of one-stop shop for women’s health.
Dr. Burrus and his partners see patients
in the center five days a week, and he and
his partner Deanna Mansker, MD, also see
patients at Bluffton Medical Services.
Leading the way to better breast health
Perry Burrus, MD
Visit us online
To learn more about our
breast health services,
visit
www.bmhsc.org
.
Learn more
Get more information on this new procedure at
Beaufort Memorial.
Go to
www.bmhsc.org
, click on “Services,”
then “Gastroenterology,” then “Barrett’s.”
Or you can call our Doctor Referral Service at
888-522-5585
to find a gastroenterologist.
Esophageal
is the fastest
growing
form of
cancer in
the U.S.
Doctor Referral Service: 888-522-5585
• Health Scene
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