Technology insight: ablative techniques for Barrett's esophagus--current and emerging trends.

New mucosal ablative techniques that can be used in the esophagus have emerged over the past two decades. These techniques have been develop primarily to treat the precursors of esophageal adenocarcinoma: dyspla, in Barrett's esophagus and early esophageal cancer. Although high-grade dysplasia and early stage cancer can be treated with esophagectomy, the inherent morbidity and mortality of esophageal adenocarcinoma and the morbidities, difficulties, costs and limitations of the current technology mean that there has been a significant increase in interest and research regarding alternative treatments such as ablative techniques. At this stage it is not clear which of the numerous endoscopic ablative techniques available---photodynamic therapy, laser therapy, multipolar electrocoagulation, argon plasma coagulation, endoscopic mucosal resection, radiofrequency ablation or cryotherapy--will emerge as superior. In addition, it has yet to be determined whether the risks associated with ablation therapy are less than the risk of Barrett's esophagus progressing to cancer. Whether ablation therapy eliminates o significantly reduces the risk of cancer, eliminates the need for surveillance endoscopy, or is cost-effective, also remains to be seen. Comparative triads that are now underway should help to answer these questions.