No heartburn? no problem? simple swallow test spots hidden esophagus risk
NCT ID NCT04880044
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested a new, office-based test called EsoCheck/EsoGuard to detect Barrett's esophagus in 132 people who do not have chronic heartburn but have other risk factors like being over 50, white, male, or having central obesity. Participants swallowed a capsule on a string to collect a sample from the esophagus, which was then tested for DNA markers. Those with a positive result underwent a standard endoscopy to confirm. The goal was to see how well this simpler test could identify Barrett's esophagus without needing a full endoscopic procedure.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- EsoCheck/EsoGuard (EC/EG) diagnostic test
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could offer a simple, non-endoscopic way to screen for Barrett's esophagus in people without heartburn, potentially catching the condition earlier.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed study focused on diagnostic accuracy, not a treatment trial. The test may not be widely adopted or may miss some cases.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Seidman Cancer Center, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
Cleveland, Ohio, 44106-5065, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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