Review Question - QID 101127

Intestinal metaplasia in a patient with chronic heartburn indicates Barrett’s esophagus, a complication of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

In GERD, stomach acid converts normal esophageal non-keratinizing stratified squamous epithelium into columnar epithelium with interspersed goblet cells, which are not found in the normal esophagus. Patients are at increased risk for esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Illustration A shows the histology of goblet cells.

Incorrect Answers:
Answer 1: Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium are present bronchi and serve to clear mucus and debris from the lungs.
Answer 2: Keratinized stratified squamous epithelium contains keratin, which protects against abrasion. Normal esophageal epithelium is non-keratinized squamous epithelium
Answer 3: Simple cuboidal epithelium is found in the ovaries and the walls of renal tubules
Answer 5: Polymorphonuclear leukocytes would indicate an inflammatory response. No such response is present in Barrett's esophagus