Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD for short, can really change what we see when we look at tissue samples from the esophagus. Here are the main changes we notice with GERD:
Changes in the Tissue Layers: We often see more basal cells and longer structures in the tissue. This usually happens because the esophagus keeps getting irritated by stomach acid that comes back up.
Inflammation: We can also see more certain types of white blood cells, like eosinophils and neutrophils, in the protective layer of the esophagus. This means there is some inflammation going on.
Barrett's Esophagus: In more serious cases, the normal squamous cells can be replaced by different types of cells called columnar cells. This change, known as intestinal metaplasia, can make it more likely to develop some serious problems, including a type of cancer called esophageal adenocarcinoma.
These changes in the tissue are reminders that GERD is a long-term condition that can lead to more health issues if not treated properly.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD for short, can really change what we see when we look at tissue samples from the esophagus. Here are the main changes we notice with GERD:
Changes in the Tissue Layers: We often see more basal cells and longer structures in the tissue. This usually happens because the esophagus keeps getting irritated by stomach acid that comes back up.
Inflammation: We can also see more certain types of white blood cells, like eosinophils and neutrophils, in the protective layer of the esophagus. This means there is some inflammation going on.
Barrett's Esophagus: In more serious cases, the normal squamous cells can be replaced by different types of cells called columnar cells. This change, known as intestinal metaplasia, can make it more likely to develop some serious problems, including a type of cancer called esophageal adenocarcinoma.
These changes in the tissue are reminders that GERD is a long-term condition that can lead to more health issues if not treated properly.