The management of Barrett's esophagus is supported by high-quality evidence in certain areas such as the performance of ablation therapy for high-grade dysplasia. However, in many areas of management of this condition, it is not practical to conduct prospective randomized controlled trials. New methods have evolved in the attempt to address specific questions regarding clinical practice when there isn't good evidence. One time-honored means is to ascertain best practices, using experts who presumably have shown that they have expertise. This presumes that physicians practicing in major centers would evolve clinical management decision models that can be translatable to current practice. The second means is to determine the standard of care in the community by surveying practicing gastroenterologists about their clinical protocols. A third is simply to ask a self-declared expert for an opinion-which is the basis of this editorial.
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