Short segment Barrett esophagus and specialized columnar mucosa at the gastroesophageal junction

The rising incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and the gastric car dia has generated interest in the finding of intestinal metaplasia or speci alized columnar mucosa in this location. Short segment Barrett esophagus is defined by the presence of columnar-appearing mucosa in the distal esophag us (<3 cm in length) with intestinal metaplasia on biopsy. In contrast, int estinal metaplasia may also be present if biopsy specimens are obtained fro m a normal-appearing squamocolumnar junction or from the gastric cardia tie , immediately below the gastroesophageal junction in the absence of columna r lining of the distal esophagus. This has been termed cardia intestinal me taplasia, gastroesophageal junction intestinal metaplasia, dr:specialized c olumnar mucosa at the gastroesophageal junction. This article reviews the c urrently available data on these rapidly evolving entities of short segment Barrett esophagus and specialized columnar mucosa at the gastroesophageal junction.