Barrett’s Oesophagus is a very common condition (0.5% of the UK population) due to reflux of stomach acid back up the gullet. Most patients with Barrett’s oesophagus have no long term problems, but about 10% develop pre-cancerous changes and a small number of these go on to develop oesophageal cancer.

For pre-cancerous changes and early cancers (especially in elderly patients who are not fit for surgery), PDT is one of the simplest treatments as it can be delivered endoscopically (ie by using a flexible telescope that can be passed through the mouth) that does not require surgery and has few complications.

If you have had an endoscopy for heartburn (acid reflux) and your specialist has told you that you have Barrett’s oesophagus with high grade dysplasia (pre-cancerous changes), then we recommend that you ask your specialist about PDT.

If you have Barrett’s oesophagus but without dysplasia, then your specialist will advise any appropriate treatment, but PDT is unlikely to be of value.

There are some other new and experimental treatments now being offered. However, if you would like to be considered for PDT as an alternative to radical surgery or other treatments, PDT is approved by NICE and can and should be offered.

A list of the centres offering Barrett’s PDT are below, and should be contacted via your GP.

Before I give you that list, if your PC says it won’t pay the cost of the treatment, please send me that information and, if required, I will get involved to resolve the issue. PDT is actually SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than surgery – about five times less than surgery.

The Centres:

Mr Grant Fullarton, Dept of GI Surgery, Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow, G12 OYN

Mr Pushpinder Sidhu, Dept of Thoracic Surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast

Dr Neil Kapoor, Consultant Gastroenterologist, Dept of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool

Mr Andrew Thorpe, Department of Thoracic Surgery, St James’s Hospital, Leeds

Dr Roger Ackroyd, Department of Surgery – Level K, Sheffield

Professor Hugh Barr, Department of Surgery, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Gloucester

Dr Laurence Lovat, University College London Hospital, London