
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions β written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Barrett's esophagus differential diagnosis
Introduction

Overview
Overview
Barrett’s esophagus must be differentiated from esophagitis, peptic ulcer disease, GERD, esophageal carcinoma and esophageal motor disorders.
Differentiating Barrett’s Esophagus from other Diseases
Differentiating Barrett’s Esophagus from other Diseases
Barrett’s esophagus should be differentiated from the following diseases;
- Esophagitis[1]
- Pill esophagitis
- Eosinophilic esophagitis
- Infectious esophagitis
- GERD[2][3]
- Esophageal carcinoma [4]
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Esophageal motor disorders
| Disease | Signs and Symptoms | Barium esophagogram | Endoscopy | Other imaging and laboratory findings | Gold Standard | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onset | Dysphagia | Weight loss | Heartburn | Other findings | Mental status | |||||||
| Solids | Liquids | Type | ||||||||||
| Barrett’s esophagus | Gradual | + | – | Progressive | +/- | + | GERD Symptoms | Normal |
|
|
|
|
| Eosinophilic esophagitis | Gradual | + | Progressive | +/- | +/- |
|
Normal |
|
|
|
||
| Esophageal carcinoma |
|
+ | + | Progressive | + | +/- | Normal |
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| Motor disorders |
|
+ | + | Progressive | +/- | – | Normal |
|
|
|
||
| GERD |
|
+ | – | Progressive | +/- | + | Normal |
|
|
| ||
References
- β Moayyedi P, Talley NJ (2006). “Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease”. Lancet. 367 (9528): 2086β100. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(06)68932-0. PMIDΒ 16798392. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - β http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/b/barretts_esophagus/misdiag.htm
- β Badillo R, Francis D (2014). “Diagnosis and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease”. World J Gastrointest Pharmacol Ther. 5 (3): 105β12. doi:10.4292/wjgpt.v5.i3.105. PMCΒ 4133436. PMIDΒ 25133039.
- β Saenko VF, Tutchenko NI, Kurilets IP, DeΔneka SV, Malinin VV (1985). “[Diagnosis and surgical treatment of nonepithelial stomach tumors]”. Klin Khir (5): 11β5. PMIDΒ 4021327.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Amresh Kumar MD [2]

