Dial back esophageal cancer screening: internists

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – A group of U.S. internal medicine doctors today recommended limiting esophageal cancer screening to people with chronic heartburn who have additional, more severe symptoms. Known as upper endoscopy, the screening procedure is often used to diagnose and manage gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) – which can be tied to a higher risk of esophageal cancer. But some of that use may be unnecessary, the American College of Physicians (ACP) said – adding costs and putting patients at risk of side effects without evidence of a clear benefit. …