Pharyngeal Diverticulum

Pharyngeal pouch (Zenker's diverticulum).

Pharyngeal pouches occur most commonly in elderly patients (over 70 years) and typical symptoms include dysphagia, regurgitation, chronic cough, aspiration, and weight loss. The aetiology remains unknown but theories centre upon a structural or physiological abnormality of the cricopharyngeus. A diagnosis is easily established on barium studies. Treatment is surgical via an endoscopic or extern...

Acquired Pharyngeal Diverticulum after Anterior Cervical Fusion Operation Misdiagnosed as Typical Zenker Diverticulum

A pharyngeal diverticulum is a rare complication of an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). We present a case of a pharyngeal diverticulum after an ACDF, which was misdiagnosed as a typical Zenker diverticulum. A 54-year-old woman presented with dysphagia and a sense of irritation in the neck following C5 through C7 cervical fusion 3 years prior. The patient underwent open surgery to...

Delayed Failure after Endoscopic Staple Repair of an Anterior Spine Surgery Related Pharyngeal Diverticulum

We present a rare complication of endoscopic staple repair of a pharyngeal diverticulum related to prior anterior cervical spine surgery. A 70-year-old male developed a symptomatic pharyngeal diverticulum 2 years after an anterior cervical fusion that was repaired via endoscopic stapler-assisted diverticulectomy. He initially had improvement of his symptoms after the stapler-assisted approach. ...

Open Access Atlas of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Operative Surgery Surgery for Pharyngeal Pouch / Zenker’s Diverticulum

The aetiology has been debated for more than a century. Historically, authors have theorised that trauma, congenital upper oesophageal strictures, thyroid goiter, or foreign bodies may play role. Gastroesophageal reflux, cricopharyngeal achalasia, persistently elevated resting tone of the cricopharyngeus, structural abnormality of the cricopharyngeus muscle, and central or peripheral neurologic...

Bicornuate Zenker’s Diverticulum