Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic condition that results when acid in the stomach moves upward into the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that moves food and saliva between the throat and the stomach.

At the lower end of the esophagus lies a ring of muscle fibers known as the lower esophageal sphincter. These muscles act like a valve, closing off the esophagus except when food is being swallowed. When the sphincter does not close tightly, acid and other substances can back up into the esophagus in a process called reflux.

Chronic reflux can cause cell changes in the esophagus that have been associated with the esophageal cancer, in particular adenocarcinoma.  Most cases of adenocarcinoma are due to Barrett’s esophagus – a condition that develops in the lining of the lower esophagus. About 30 percent of esophageal cancers can be traced to GERD, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

GERD can affect everyone from newborns to adults. Symptoms typically include heartburn, a burning pain in the center of the chest that starts in the upper abdomen and sometimes spreads into the neck. For some adults, reflux symptoms are so minor that they may not be aware of them. However, those with GERD usually feel substantial heartburn after most meals.

The American College of Gastroenterology recommends that people with long-standing symptoms of reflux undergo endoscopy. This is a procedure performed by a physician, usually a gastroenterologist, to examine an individual’s esophagus and stomach. It is completed with an endoscope, which is a thin, lighted tube with a camera.

An endoscopy also can be used to sample suspicious tissue (biopsy) to diagnose precancerous or cancerous changes. Periodic endoscopies may be recommended for patients who have had symptoms of GERD for several years to help monitor for Barrett’s esophagus or other precancerous changes.