Balloon Cryotherapy vs. Radiofrequency Ablation Pain Study

Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which the normal lining of the lower esophagus is replaced with cells that predispose an individual to development of esophageal cancer. Treatment of Barrett's esophagus reduces the risk of progression to cancer. Treatment is provided endoscopically, via a variety of approved techniques including endoscopic mucosal resection, argon plasma coagulation, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), spray cryotherapy ablation and balloon cryotherapy ablation. A common side effect of ablation treatment is pain, thus making pain an important factor when discussing treatment options. It is speculated that balloon cryotherapy causes less pain than RFA but no head-to-head comparison trials exist to date. This multi-center, prospective cohort study aims to compare pre- and post-procedural pain for balloon cryotherapy versus RFA. Providing both patients and clinicians with data from a well-designed prospective study may help guide future physician/patient treatment discussions.