My Followup Endoscopy

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Hello! I have written on here previously after my first endoscopy that was done 10 months ago. The doctor found a salmon colored tongue that he biopsied and it came back negative for Barretts Esophagus. He said I needed no further endoscopies and I just have a irregular z line. However I was very anxious and nervous because it visually looked like Barretts. So I found a specialist at a university in my city and he agreed that I didn't need another endoscopy especially since i am female, thin and 33 years old. However I pushed the issue and he finally agreed to perform the endoscopy which I had yesterday. My report said that he did endoscopy via NBI and I have irregular z line with tongues less than 1cm that he biopsied and then a single satellite lesion that he biopsied. Can I get some feedback on what this means? I'm very concerned about the satellite lesion!!!! Thanks!!

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3 Replies

  • Posted

    There's nothing to worry about.

    Barrett's does look salmon coloured on endoscopy but visual identification can be mistaken for something else. A microscopic evaluation by a pathologist of the cells harvested in a biopsy are what is reuired to see if you have barrett's or not.

    White, overweight males 55 years and over with a family history of oesophageal cancer are those most at risk.

    NBI = Narrow Band Imaging (an endoscopy technique to enhance the view and detail) .

    The z-line is where the oesophagus meets the stomach. It is quite common for this to be irregular. The stomach cells are visually almost identical to Barrett's cells but will be on the stomach side of the z-line. Barrett's cells would be on the oesophagus side of the z-line. Anything resembling Barrett's that is less than 1 cm is considered to be actually due to the irregularity of the z-line. Unless the satellite lesion is more than 5mm, it can be dismissed and require no biopsy since it will also be stomach cells.

    • Posted

      Thank You so much for your response. I was confused especially about the satellite lesion but that makes sense. Thanks again!
    • Posted

      Hi! I have great news!!! My biopsies came back as squamos-glandular mucosa, negative for intestinal metaplasia. I am so relieved!! I was so happy I didn't ask the doc any further questions. But I am wondering why do I have this single satellite lesion and also in having a irregular z line even if it's not intestinal metaplasia, am I more at risk for developing Barretts in the future?

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