ECTOPIC gastric mucosa in the esophagus was first reported about 70 years ago1 by Keible. In 1950 Barrett2 described a syndrome, now identified with his name, of a chronic peptic ulcer in the middle third of the esophagus lined with columnar epithelium distal to the ulcer.
Since Barrett's initial description, several reports of columnar-lined esophagus have appeared. The relation of this condition to reflux esophagitis and a high incidence of adenocarcinoma has been reported.3
We present a case report of a patient with hiatal hernia and reflux esophagitis in whom a columnar-lined epithelium developed (Barrett's syndrome) in a benign polyp of the lower esophagus. This benign polyp had been diagnosed 16 years previously.
Report of a Case
A 68-year-old woman was first seen by a physician in 1961. She complained of dysphagia, heartburn, and intermittent epigastric pain. Roentgenographic examination showed a polyp in the lower part of