Year 4common
A 58-year-old man is undergoing evaluation for chronic upper gastrointestinal symptoms. He reports longstanding retrosternal burning, especially at night and after large meals. He has used over-the-counter antacids for years but recently began experiencing intermittent dysphagia to solids. He is a non-smoker but has a waist circumference of 110 cm and a BMI of 32 kg/m². His father was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in his late 60s.
Upper endoscopy reveals a salmon-colored mucosa extending 3 cm above the gastroesophageal junction. Multiple biopsies are taken from the area.
Which of the following histologic findings would confirm the suspected diagnosis?