1. ¹Gastrointestinal Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
2. ²Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

Correspondence: Dr GY Lauwers, MD, Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, WRN 2, Boston, MA 02114 USA. E-mail: glauwers@partners.org

Received 12 September 2008; Revised 24 September 2008; Accepted 2 January 2009; Published online 13 March 2009.

Abstract

This review introduces some of the novel endoscopic modalities used for the treatment of superficial neoplasms arising in the setting of Barrett's esophagus, namely endoscopic mucosal resection and photodynamic therapy. We describe the appropriate technical details for pathologists to know to effectively communicate with the gastroenterologists as well as the pitfalls in the evaluation of endoscopic mucosal resection specimens and post photodynamic therapy follow-up biopsies.