<i>Background:</i>The rising incidence of cardiac adenocarcinoma has been linked to the increasing diagnostic awareness of "ultrashort" Barrett esophagus (BE) found in up to 30% of routine biopsies (Bx) even from endoscopically unconspicuous esophagogastric junction (egj) mucosa. We present the results of a multicenter study involving 8 centers (hospital/private practive endoscopists). <i>Patients and Methods:</i>In the various centers up to 3 eligible patients per day were included during various time intervals depending on the availability of research students. Patients >75 years, those with varices, neoplasia, and coag. disorders were excluded. Reflux symptoms and the endoscopic findings (anatomic locations, presence of hiatal hernia and reflux esophagitis) were recorded. 2 Bx were taken from antrum, body and cardia, and 4-quadrant Bx from the egj. <i>Results:</i>869 patients are evaluable (52% male, mean age: 48 yrs). In 16 % goblet-cells (GC) were found, but 1/4 of those had complete intestinal metaplasia (CIM); no cases of dysplasia were detected. GC were found more frequently (3x) in patients >40 yrs. There was no correlation between GERD-symptoms, antireflux therapy, presence of reflux esophagitis, and GC. Even in cases in whom the endoscopist suspected any form of BE, only 20 to 25 % had GC. The distance of the egj and the most proximal gastric folds was not correlated with the prevalence of GC: This was 16 % for a distance of 0-1 cm, 12 % for 2 cm; and 16% for ≥3cm. On the other hand, only 1/4 of the GC-positive patients had endoscopically a completely normal EGJ. <i>Conclusions:</i>The relevance of the so-called "ultrashort" BE and associated dysplasia has probably been overestimated, possibly due to a selection bias of patients undergoing "routine" Bx of the eg junction. Unfortunately, in our study, endoscopy alone was not sufficient to diagnose BE in its various forms. It has to be evaluated whether routine biopsies from any abnormal eg junction are warranted.