Oesophageal intestinal metaplasia · Alcian blue

Barrett oesophagus combines an appropriate oesophageal endoscopic context with histological characterisation; this image illustrates intestinal metaplasia.

Verify biopsy site and stain before interpreting blue cells as goblet cells.

Goblet cells contain blue-stained mucins; the field shows glandular epithelium.

Chronic gastro-oesophageal reflux is a common setting; the section alone cannot establish the history.

Cardia intestinal metaplasia requires localisation for distinction; blue staining does not establish dysplasia.

Correlate with the endoscopy report, segment extent and biopsies of visible abnormalities.

Dysplasia or a suspicious lesion changes specialist management; an isolated section cannot exclude findings elsewhere.

Metaplasia, dysplasia and adenocarcinoma are distinct; dysplasia requires expert pathological confirmation.

Histology characterises tissue; surveillance depends on the complete diagnosis rather than blue cells alone.

• Weusten BLAM et al. Diagnosis and management of Barrett esophagus: ESGE Guideline. Endoscopy, 2023 ↗
• Shaheen NJ. Diagnosis and Management of Barrett’s Esophagus: An Updated ACG Guideline. ACG Virtual Grand Rounds, 28 July 2022(présentation de l’auteur, pas journal article) ↗

Documentary review: 2026-10-15