What type of epithelial change occurs in Barrett's esophagus?

In Barrett's esophagus, the primary change that occurs is the metaplasia of the normal stratified squamous epithelium of the esophagus to a columnar epithelium. This transformation typically occurs as a response to chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), where the acidic gastric contents repeatedly irritate the esophageal lining.

The metaplastic process allows the esophagus to better withstand the acidic environment by replacing the squamous cells, which are more sensitive to acidic damage, with columnar cells that can better tolerate the harsh conditions. This change is significant because it increases the risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma, making monitoring patients with Barrett's esophagus crucial.

Considering the other options, the transition to stratified squamous epithelium would not apply here, as Barrett's esophagus is characterized by a loss of squamous epithelium. Hyperplasia of squamous epithelium refers to an increase in the number of squamous cells but does not explain the metaplastic change seen in Barrett's. Desquamation of the lamina propria does not pertain to the epithelial transformation that defines Barrett's esophagus. Therefore, columnar epithelium metaplas