1. Community
  2. Gut, bowel and stomach
  3. Barrett's Oesophagus

Waiting for biopsy results

Posted , 4 users are following.

Puks100
Puks100

I've had my endoscopy done 2 days ago and awaiting for biopsy results. On the endoscopy they found Barrett's esophagus C2M2. Not sure what that means but I'm worried that I've got it at a young age of 35. Doctor is not worried but told me to do a repeat in 3 months and if everything is negative then 3 years from there on.

I've read that length of barrels is equally important. Considering mine is 2 cm, should I be worried?

My dad passed away last year due to adenocarcinoma at the age of 74 so there is a bit of family history in my case.

1 like, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • Barretts
    Barretts Puks100

    Posted

    Hi,

    Firstly don't worry. Easier said than done, I know.

    There are probably about 1 million of us in the UK with Barrett's but only 10% know it. We are the lucky ones who will recieve regular surveillance and treatment to ensure we don't get cancer.

    Some of the normal "squamous" cells lining your oesophagus have been replaced with columnar ones that are more resistant to acid attack and move the pain sensors further away so you're less likely to feel heartburn. It is a permanent (metaplastic) change. However, these cells do have the possibility of mutation through stages of dysplasia to adenocarcinoma. Although not an hereditary disease inasmuch as it's not definite you'll get it, some genes have been identified that made you more prone to development of Barrett's, But the risks of progression are very small.

    The C2M2 Prague classification shows Circumferential measurement of a 2cm collar of Barrett's metaplasia with the Maximum ength of any "tongues" as 2 cm.

    Anything less than 3 cm is considered "short segment" and the BSG guidelines recommend surveillance every 3 to 5 years. For longer segments, surveillance is every 2 to 3 threes.

    If mutation is going to occur, dysplastic chnages would be seen first whence the Barrett's may be removed - usually using a combination of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and Radio Frequency Ablation (RFA) which would result in the restoration of squamous cells and minimise risk of developing the cancer.

    You may find these links helpful.

    1. Go to the Barrett's Wessex website (you'll find a link on the right hand column but it's www BarrettsWessex org uk) and take time to look at the presentation found by clicking on the JOURNEY tab.

    2. Go to the www DownWithAcid org uk site and find the chapters on Barrett's Oesophagus, diagnosis, treatments and procedures.

    All the best,

    Chris

    • Puks100
      Puks100 Barretts

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply Chris and thanks for the empathy.

      I will go through the sites you mentioned and read the materials but honestly I've read too much information so far on this and as a human nature everytime you read something you always think about the worst outcome!

      The only thing that's worring me is that my dad probably never took his heartburn seriously and only visited doctor when he started having difficulty swallowing food.  He was a non-smoker and had very limited alcohol throughout his life.. From the time of his first endoscopy to the time he passed away, the entire period was ONLY 17 days!!!  so we must have discovered the cancer in the last of last stage!!

      I'm only 35 and have two toddlers which is the most worrying part if something comes up in the biopsy.  I've lost some weight consciously and losing some due to worry as I keep thinking about it all the time.

      I will keep you posted once I get the biopsy results and keeping fingers crossed.

      Thanks once again for your time and support.

       

    • Puks100
      Puks100 Barretts

      Posted

      By the way, I live in Australia so there is a time difference from the UK.
  • Barretts
    Barretts Puks100

    Posted

    I've had 3cm of non-dysplastic Barrett's for at least 32 years unchanged and will probably still have it when i die of something else.

    My dad had had indigestion all his life and just took antacids.. He died of a heart attack when I was a young teen. he probably thought it was indigestion again.

    I used to eat antacids as sweets and didn't trouble my doctor as I thought heartburn was just a way of life.

    Barrett's and oesophageal cancer can take years to develop though the last stage is very rapid.

    Typically young men may get heartburn when they've been drinking with their mates. Over th enext few years it seems to go away. Without knowing, they've developed Barrett's which is protecting them from the symptoms. Then it comes back with a vengeance when they reach their 50's and they see a doctor. But it's too late. They've developed the cancer and may have just weeks left.

    That's why I say we're lucky to know we have it - and that's why the charity I co-founded and chair (Barrett's Wessex) aims to reduce deaths to adenocarcinoma by raising awareness of Barrett's.

  • Barretts
    Barretts Puks100

    Posted

    Sorry, mistyped. I've only known I have Barrett's for 21 years. (May have had it 32 years, who knows?)
    • Puks100
      Puks100 Barretts

      Posted

      Hi Chris,

      If the biopsy results come back within 2 days is it considered to be normal?  I haven't seen the results or the doctor as yet as I am supposed to see him later this week but I have confirmed that they have received my biopsy results but they won't disclose it to me without me going to see my doctor.

      This wait is killing me!!!  I read somewhere that if they found something in the biopsy they will take longer to process and results may take upto a week to come.

    • Barretts
      Barretts Puks100

      Posted

      2 days return on biopsy results seems something of a record. I've heard of people waiting 6 weeks. The path lab must have been quiet. Each biopsy can result in hundreds of cell slides to be examined by eye.

      Hopefully all will be "normal" metaplasia (or, even better, the visual diagnosis of Barrett's was wrong and not confirmed by histology).

      However, if dysplasia has been found, discuss having Radio Frequency Ablation therapy to remove it so it can't progress to cancer.

      (Don't know where in Aus you hail from but there are physicians who perform this in Auchflower QLD, Darlinghurst NS, Bankstown NSW, Fitzroy VIC, Parkville VIC, Perth, St Leonards NSW, Westmead NSW if you need RFA.)

      All the best.

      Chris

    • Puks100
      Puks100 Barretts

      Posted

      Thanks Chris. I am from Sydney so the Bankstown and Westmead are my options if I have to go down that path.

      The P53 and HPV virus results haven't come in the I spoke to GP over the phone and he didn't give me more specific details but insisted on me visiting my specialist on Thursday.

      He did however mention that in the report he could not find dysplasia and upon further pressing he also said he couldn't see a thing like "intentinal metaplasia". I won't take anything for granted as I haven't seen the results but the GPs words were - "sit tight and see your specialist" he will be able to interpret the results for you. I really hope that nothing serious comes out of this ad I've been worrying like anything since the biopsy!!

    • Puks100
      Puks100

      Posted

      Hi Chris,

      I did get the copy of the biopsy result from the GP. Haven't seen the specialist yet but here is what it says. Wonder if you can help me before I meet the specialist.

      Sections of non-keratnising squamous mucosa and glandular mucosa consistent with sampling of the gastro-oesophageal junction. The sequmous mucosa shows moderate basal hyperplasia and occasional intramucosal lymphocytes and eosinophils.

      The glandular mucosa shows moderate active chronic inflammation in the lamina propria and reactive epithelium.

      There is no intestinal metaplasia. No dysplasia and no evidence of malignancy.

      Thanks.

    • Puks100
      Puks100 Barretts

      Posted

      Hi Chris,

      I have met with the specialist today and he again insisted that I have Barrett's despite biopsy result saying no IM. He reckons grandular mucosa mentioned in the report means you have Barrett's and there may be sampling error in short segments up to 50% and how the biopsy was done (cut the sample diagonally instead of vertically) may have a bearing on false negative. So at next biopsy he will ask them to look for goblet cells.

      The bottom like is non-dysplasia but he is waiting for my P53 and high risk HPV virus in my biopsy and that may take weeks to come.

      I've had my hopes high but now disappointed that the pathology report may be incorrect.

    • Puks100
      Puks100 Barretts

      Posted

      Scheduled for another biopsy on 4th March and based on the results of that we'll take the next course of action.
    • Barretts
      Barretts Puks100

      Posted

      Whether you have Barrett's or not, th egood news is there's no dysplasia and risks of progression are almost too small to worry about.
    • Puks100
      Puks100 Barretts

      Posted

      Thanks Chris.

      However as per the specialist if there was a sampling error (he reckons the sampling error is 40%) then wouldn't the same be applied to my non-dysplastic diagnosis? 

      my read is, whatever sample was taken, and he took 4 quardent samples and a lot others, were sent to the pathology and they reported it as being non dysplastic and no IM.  so if indeed there was a sampling error, then would that mean the non-dysplastic diagnosis is redundant?

      I am worried now.  Please advise.

      Thanks

       

    • Barretts
      Barretts Puks100

      Posted

      If any dysplasia existed, it would have be likely to be more obvious at biopsy so the quadrantic sampling using the Prague  protocol would have been done to cover that area.

      Possible dysplasia is easier to spot at histology and if any suggestion of it, they have to obtain the opinion of at least one other pathologist.

      Your chances of having dysplasia are really very small.

      Your next scope and biopsies should confirm.

    • Puks100
      Puks100 Barretts

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply Chris.

      Thanks for your support and I will keep you posted on my further scope and biopsy results. Really hoping that I just have Cardia as described in the biopsy results and therefore CLE but no Barrett's. And even if I do have Barrett's I am hoping that it's definitely non dysplastic.

      Thanks once again.

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.