After each RFA procedure, patients were treated for a period of 2 weeks with ranitidine 300 mg at bedtime and 5 mL sucralfate suspension (200 mg/mL) 4 times daily in addition to the maintenance medication of esomeprazole 40 mg twice daily. In case of prior ER, the first circumferential INCB018424 in vivo RFA of the whole

BE segment was performed at least 6 weeks after ER. Subsequent RFA sessions were scheduled every 2 to 3 months until complete eradication of all visible BE was achieved. Patients underwent a maximum of 2 circumferential and 3 focal ablations. In case of residual BE after the maximum number of RFA sessions, an ER was performed as

an “escape” procedure (Fig. 1). Once complete remission of all visible BE was achieved, and complete histological clearance of dysplasia and IM was documented (or 2-3 months after the escape procedure), patients were followed with high-resolution endoscopies with narrow-band imaging at 3, 6, and 12 months and annually thereafter. At these follow-up endoscopies, 4-quadrant biopsy specimens were obtained immediately distal (<5 mm) to the neosquamocolumnar junction and from the neosquamous epithelium at 2-cm intervals. All ER specimens and biopsy specimens were routinely processed and stained Ixazomib manufacturer with hematoxylin and eosin and assessed by three study pathologists (F.T.K., M.V., C.S.).4 The ER specimens and biopsy specimens were evaluated for the presence of neoplasia and

cancer according to the World Health Organization classification.21 In the case of cancer in the ER specimens, tumor infiltration depth, tumor differentiation grade, the presence of lymphatic/vascular diglyceride invasive growth, and radicality of the vertical resection margins were documented. Biopsy specimens of the neosquamous epithelium were also evaluated for the presence of subsquamous foci of IM. Primary endpoints were (1) complete removal of neoplasia (CR-neoplasia), defined as the absence of LGIN, HGIN, and EC from all biopsy specimens obtained during the first follow-up endoscopy and (2) complete removal of intestinal metaplasia (CR-IM), defined as endoscopic resolution of all BE and no evidence of IM in any of the biopsy specimens obtained during the first follow-up endoscopy (including the biopsy specimens from the neosquamocolumnar junction and from the neosquamous mucosa). Secondary endpoints were (1) recurrence of neoplasia during follow-up, (2) recurrence of BE during follow-up (either endoscopic or histological), and (3) the complication rate of ER and RFA.