Abstract

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is one of the most common maladies of mankind. Approximately 40% of the adult population of the USA suffers from significant heartburn and the numerous antacids advertised incessantly on national television represents a $8 billion per year drug market. The ability to control acid secretion with the increasingly effective acid-suppressive agents such as the H2 blockers (pepcid, zantac) and proton pump inhibitors (nexium, prevacid) has given physicians an excellent method of treating the symptoms of acid reflux.
Unfortunately, this has not eradicated reflux disease. It has just changed its nature. While heartburn, ulceration and strictures have become rare, reflux-induced adenocarcinoma of the esophagus is becoming increasingly common. Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastric cardia is now the most rapidly increasing cancer type in the Western world.
The increasing incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma has created an enormous interest and stimulus for research in this area. GERD brings together a vast amount of disparate literature and presents the entire pathogenesis of reflux disease in one place. In addition to providing a new concept of how gastroesophageal reflux causes cellular changes in the esophagus, GERD also offers a complete solution to a problem that has confused physicians for over a century. Both clinical and pathological information about reflux disease and its treatment are presented. GERD is meant to be used as a comprehensive reference for gastroenterologists, esophageal surgeons, and pathologists alike.

• Outlines how gastroesophageal reflux causes cellular changes in the esophagus
• Brings together the pathogenesis of the disease in one source and applies it toward clinical treatment
• Tom DeMeester is THE leading international expert on reflux disease; Parakrama Chandrasoma is one of the leading pathologists in the area
• Book contains approximately 350 illustrations
• Ancillary web site features color illustrations: www.chandrasoma.com

"An essential reading for whoever treats patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, from gastroenterologists to surgeons.”
--Marco G. Patti, MD, Professor of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco
"All of us who are involved in the care of patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma owe a debt of gratitude to Drs. DeMeester and Chandrasoma for producing the exceptional material contained within this text."
--Donald O. Castell, MD, Professor of Medicine, Director, Esophageal Disorders Program, Medical University of South Carolina
“This timely and authoritative book was written by two masters in the field whose experience spans two decades and includes supervision of studies involving more than 10,000 patients. The book is well written and demonstrates the advantages of having a limited number of authors and a narrow focus — namely, consistency of style and a cohesive philosophy…We therefore feel that this book is essential reading for anyone with an interest in esophageal disease, and particularly in GERD and esophageal adenocarcinoma.”
-- The New England Journal of Medicine
"This book is extremely well written, carefully and thoughtfully prepared, and offers the open-minded reader a view of GERD that they would not read in any standard textbook or review article on the subject. The rich descriptions of the histopathology, views on carditis, cardiac intestinal metaplasia; and the microscopic definition of the gastroesophageal junction are valuable to all that study this disease.” – Philp O. Katz, Thomas Jefferson University and Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, Gastroenterology, 2007
“This book describes a novel, fascinating, straight-forward approach towards understanding and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD), a disease that is ‘all about us’. The book is highly recommended to those who want to become better in the management of their patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.” – Johannes Lenglinger and Martin Riegler, European Surgery, 2007.
"We therefore feel that this book is essential reading for anyone with an interest in esophageal disease, and particularly in GERD and esophageal adenocarcinoma" - Subhas Banerjee and Jacques Van Dam, Stanford University School of Medicine, 2007