Three-dimensional optical coherence tomography of Barrett's esophagus glands beneath neosquamous epithelium following radiofrequency ablation

摘要

We report three-dimensional (3D) endoscopic microscopy findings in Barrett’s esophagus, usingan endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT) system in one patient before and in onepatient after radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Findings were compared with those in a normalpatient without Barrett’s esophagus. In the normal patient, findings were of regular flat squamousmucosa with small subepithelial vessels and glands. In the Barrett’s esophagus patient, findingswere of large, densely packed glands with distortion of mucosal architecture. In the post-RFAcase, findings were of a small number of isolated glands buried beneath 300–500 μm ofneosquamous epithelium and lamina propria. Neosquamous epithelium is a marker of successfulablative therapy, while buried glands may have potential for dysplastic progression and aredifficult to detect using conventional methods. These results indicate a potential role of 3D-OCTendoscopic microscopy for follow-up, including subsurface assessment, of ablative treatments forBarrett’s esophagus.