4. High-Grade Dysplasia
While low-grade dysplasia offers no real threat of the condition turning cancerous, those individuals diagnosed with high-grade dysplasia are at high risk of developing some form of throat cancer. High-grade dysplasia is a signal that most of the cells in the esophagus are experiencing changes. As the pace of changes increases, there’s a real risk of developing cancerous tumors in the throat.
If your doctor diagnoses high-grade dysplasia, they may recommend a course of immediate treatment that includes radiofrequency ablation or endoscopic resection. This treatment uses endoscopy to remove precancerous cells before they turn cancerous.
Some doctors use “cryo-therapy” to freeze the affected cells in the esophagus. The physician applies a cold liquid to freeze the cells and then allows it to thaw before freezing it again. After multiple cycles, the affected cells die off.
Surgery is another method frequently encountered in treating Barrett’s esophagus. The surgeon removes the damaged part of the esophageal sphincter, attached the remaining tissue to the stomach.