Epiphrenic esophageal diverticula (EED) are rare. The estimated incidence is about 1:500,000/year. EED usually result from a combination of esophageal obstruction, functional or mechanical and a point of weakness of the muscularis propria. Most of the symptoms are unspecific, but dysphagia is most common. Chest radiograph, barium esophagogram, endoscopy and manometry are diagnostic tools. The t...

Introduction: The diagnosis of symptomatic epiphrenic esophageal diverticulum is rare (15-20%). Esophageal leiomyoma and epiphrenic diverticula are both uncommon, but may rarely occur together. In this patient a leiomyoma was found within an epiphrenic diverticulum. Methods: We report the case of a 58-year-old man referred to our unit with a 4-year history of progressive and intermittent dyspha...

Fig. 1. Barium swallow depicting an epiphrenic diverticulum. Preoperative manometry revealed significant tertiary contractions with intact primary peristalsis. The lower esophageal sphincter relaxed normally which excluded the diagnosis of achalasia. Fig. 2. Resected diverticular sac demonstrating retained potassium supplementation pills. The patient had undergone a successful diverticulectomy,...

Here, we present the case of a 63-year-old, previously healthy, female patient who sought treatment at a general surgery outpatient clinic complaining of an approximate one-year history of dysphagia for solids. An upper gastrointestinal series showed achalasia and two diverticula in the distal esophagus (Figure 1). Those findings were also documented by computed tomography (Figure 2) and upper ...

Here, we present the case of a 63-year-old, previously healthy, female patient who sought treatment at a general surgery outpatient clinic complaining of an approximate one-year history of dysphagia for solids. An upper gastrointestinal series showed achalasia and two diverticula in the distal esophagus (Figure 1). Those findings were also documented by computed tomography (Figure 2) and upper ...

Diverticula of the oesophagus are rare. They can occur at any level, and are often defined by their anatomical location. Three categories are recognised, namely pharyngo-oesophageal, parabronchial and epiphrenic. Although these diverticula are often asymptomatic, patients can develop significant problems with dysphagia, regurgitation and aspiration. The causation of oesophageal diverticula is c...