Barrett’s Esophagus: Emerging Knowledge and Management Strategies
Figure 2
(a) Intestinal metaplasia is defined by the presence of goblet cells distended with mucin. In this photomicrograph there is no dysplasia, as evidenced by presence of surface maturation. Surface epithelial cells show uniform mucin caps and well-polarized nuclei. (b) Low-grade dysplasia of the intestinal type is characterized by hyperchromatic elongate nuclei that are seen in both the crypts and the surface epithelium (i.e., loss of surface maturation). (c) Presence of glandular crowding, nuclear stratification, and loss of nuclear polarity signifies high-grade dysplasia. (d) Glandular complexity, budding, and presence of incomplete glandular profiles are evidence of lamina propria invasion (intramucosal carcinoma).
