Now effective are screening programs in patients with Barrett's snydrome?

This review analyses whether the assumption is justified that endoscopic sc reening in patients with Barrett's syndrome facilitates early recognition o f cancer and leads to prolongation of life. It is shown that no reliable da ta exist that would support the latter conclusion. Although there is scant information that some patients may benefit from close surveillance, it appe ars unlikely that an all too ambitious surveillance program will either be cost effective or acceptable for patients and/or endoscopy centers.