Barrett's esophagus

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Departments and specialties

Mayo Clinic has one of the largest and most experienced practices in the United States, with campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota. Staff skilled in dozens of specialties work together to ensure quality care and successful recovery.

Departments that treat this condition

Research

Innovative and minimally invasive methods to detect Barrett's esophagus without endoscopy are being developed and tested at Mayo Clinic. This research is being conducted in collaboration with Exact Sciences and is also funded by the National Cancer Institute.

The sponge on a string is a low-tech device consisting of a capsule filled with compressed polyurethane foam that's attached to a string. This capsule is swallowed with a few sips of water and dissolves in the stomach within five minutes, releasing the sponge. This is then retrieved by the string, sampling the esophagus and providing almost 1 million cells. The cellular DNA is then analyzed for biomarkers in the lab.

Phase 1 and 2 studies have been completed showing the safety and excellent tolerability of this device. The biomarkers are 97% accurate in predicting the presence of Barrett's esophagus compared with endoscopy. This simple test can be done by a nurse in an office without the need for expensive sedation and endoscopy.

Other innovations such as novel treatment and imaging technologies are also being tested at Mayo Clinic.

Publications

See a list of publications on Barrett's esophagus by Mayo Clinic doctors on PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine.

Research Profiles

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Barrett's esophagus care at Mayo Clinic

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Diagnosis & treatmentCare at Mayo Clinic
Feb. 08, 2023
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Barrett's esophagus

Research: It's all about patients

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Joseph Sirven, M.D., Professor of Neurology, Mayo Clinic: Mayo's mission is about the patient. The patient comes first. So the mission and research here is to advance how we can best help the patient, how to make sure the patient comes first in care. So in many ways, it's a cycle. It can start with as simple as an idea worked on in a laboratory, brought to the patient bedside, and if everything goes right — and let's say it's helpful or beneficial — then brought on as a standard approach. And I think that is one of the unique characteristics of Mayo's approach to research — that patient-centeredness — that really helps to put it in its own spotlight.