Editorial: Cancer surveillance in achalasia: better late than never?

Abstract

Patients with achalasia have an increased risk for the development of esophageal squamous cell cancer. Endoscopic surveillance in long-standing achalasia has been advocated by some, but the most recent American Society of Gastrointesinal Endoscopy guidelines regard current data as insufficient to support such an approach. In this issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology, Leeuwenburgh and colleagues report on the results of a long-term prospective study with fixed surveillance intervals. The authors confirm earlier observations of an increased cancer risk after 10 years of symptomatic achalasia. Despite some limitations, this study and earlier data suggest that it might be worthwhile to consider endoscopic surveillance in patients with long-standing achalasia.