Adenocarcinoma arising in columnar lined oesophagus following treatment with argon plasma coagulation

Editor,—Following the recent report by Van Laethem et al ((2000) Gut 46:574–7.[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3][Web of Science][4]) of adenocarcinoma developing in a patient whose columnar lined oesophagus had been treated by argon plasma coagulation, we wish to highlight a second case. A 67 year old man presented with epigastric discomfort but no “alarm” symptoms of dysphagia or weight loss. Endoscopy revealed a 5 cm length of columnar lined oesophagus with no evidence of ulceration or stricture. Histology showed intestinal metaplasia with low grade dysplasia. He consented to enter a study of argon plasma coagulation treatment in Barrett's oesophagus. One half of the affected oesophagus was treated with argon plasma coagulation (Erbe APC 300, Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH, Germany). He was commenced on omeprazole 40 mg. Repeat endoscopy at two months showed macroscopic regrowth of the squamous epithelium in the area treated by argon plasma coagulation. This was confirmed histologically and the previously … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DGastrointestinal%2Bendoscopy%26rft.stitle%253DGastrointest%2BEndosc%26rft.aulast%253DLaine%26rft.auinit1%253DL.%26rft.volume%253D44%26rft.issue%253D5%26rft.spage%253D523%26rft.epage%253D526%26rft.atitle%253DProspective%2Bcomparison%2Bof%2Bcommercially%2Bavailable%2Brapid%2Burease%2Btests%2Bfor%2Bthe%2Bdiagnosis%2Bof%2BHelicobacter%2Bpylori.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1016%252FS0016-5107%252896%252970002-0%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F8934155%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1016/S0016-5107(96)70002-0&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=8934155&link_type=MED&atom=%2Fgutjnl%2F48%2F4%2F580.3.atom [4]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=A1996VT20700002&link_type=ISI