K. Takubo et al., DUCTS OF ESOPHAGEAL GLANDS PROPER AND PANETH CELLS IN BARRETTS-ESOPHAGUS - FREQUENCY IN BIOPSY SPECIMENS, Pathology, 27(4), 1995, pp. 315-317
The frequency of ducts of esophageal glands proper and Paneth cells wa
s studied in endoscopic biopsy specimens obtained from 49 patients dia
gnosed as having Barrett's esophagus. Esophageal gland ducts were foun
d in 5 (10%) of the subjects. Paneth cells were observed in 15 (31%) o
f the 49 patients, being located mainly among mucous cells of intestin
alized crypts although a few were also noted in the surface epithelium
. Since the presence of esophageal gland ducts in the columnar epithel
ium-lined mucosa is a pathognomonic feature of Barrett's esophagus, 10
% of the patients reviewed were considered to have an unequivocal diag
nosis of Barrett's esophagus. Barrett's mucosa showed histological fea
tures similar to incomplete-type intestinal metaplasia of gastric muco
sa, except for the presence of Paneth cells.