Barrett’s esophagus (BE) is a peptic ulcer in the lower esophagus, often associated with stricture, caused by the presence of columnar-lined epithelium. The columnar-lined epithelium may contain functional mucous cells, parietal cells, or chief cells in the esophagus instead of the normal squamous cell epithelium. The presence of specialized intestinal metaplasia (SIM) with goblet cells confirms the diagnosis of BE.

The incidence is divided into two subtypes: long-segment Barrett’s esophagus (LSBE) and short-segment Barrett’s esophagus (SSBE). In LSBE, the incidence is reported to be 0.3% to 2% of the entire population, but 8% to 20% in patients with gastroesophageal reflex disease (GERD). In the United States, the incidence is 376:100,000, predominately in Caucasian males. In SSBE, the incidence is reported to be 5% to 30%.