@clinician.insight: Today, we’re taking a trip down the throat of a patient with long-standing gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD)—commonly known as heartburn—which has progressed to a classic case of Barrett’s esophagus (BE). What’s happening? Chronic acid reflux repeatedly injures the lower esophagus. Over time, the normal stratified squamous epithelium is replaced by columnar epithelium with intestinal metaplasia—the hallmark of Barrett’s esophagus. Why it matters: Barrett’s esophagus significantly increases the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma, making early recognition, surveillance endoscopy, and proper management critical. Key takeaway: Persistent heartburn is not “just reflux.” When symptoms are chronic, the esophagus adapts—and sometimes at a dangerous cost. #BarrettsEsophagus #GERD #Heartburn #GIPathology #Gastroenterology #Endoscopy #medicaltok #DoctorTok #MedEd #Pathology #gitract #EsophagealCancer #ClinicalMedicine #MBBS #FutureDoctor #LearnOnTikTok #HealthAwareness #ScienceTok
