A diverticulum of the mucosa of the pharynx, just above the cricopharyngeal muscle.
Common type of esophageal diverticulum, caused by cricopharyngeal muscle dysfunction.
Primarily a disease of the elderly.
Can cause dysphagia and associated with impaired nutrition and spiration.
It is a false diverticulum in that it does not involve all layers of the esophageal wall.
Mainly affects older adults.
Almost always found in patients older than 60 years, and most older than 75 years.
Open surgical diverticulectomy has been replaced by less invasive surgical procedures
Treatment of choice presently is by rigid endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy.
Rigid cricopharyngeal myotomy requires extension of the neck is usually performed under general endotracheal anesthesia.
Open surgical diverticulectomy has been replaced by less invasive surgical procedures
Flexible endoscopic management is also available for this procedure and may result in similar success rates, and does not require general anesthesia or hospitalization.
Flexible endoscopic management results in similar success rates, and does not require general anesthesia or hospitalization.
Caused by excessive pressure within the lower pharynx, the weakest portion of the pharyngeal wall, forming a diverticulum which may reach several centimetres in diameter.
Uncoordinated swallowing, manifested by impaired relaxation and spasm of the cricopharyngeus muscle leads to an increase in pressure within the distal pharynx, so that its wall herniates through the point of least resistance resulting is an outpouching of the posterior pharyngeal wall.
Occurs just above the esophagus, just above the cricopharyngeal muscle.
May be asymptomatic.
Often causes clinical manifestations such as dysphagia, regurgitation, cough, and halitosis.
Rarely associated with pain.
Cervical webs are seen associated in 50% patients.
A simple barium swallow will normally reveal the diverticulum.
Endoscopy increases risk of perforation.
No treatment required for small and asymptomatic lesions.
Larger, symptomatic lesions traditionally treated by neck surgery to resect the diverticulum and incise the cricopharyngeus muscle.
Presently, non-surgical endoscopic techniques of endoscopic stapling are performed through a fibreoptic endoscope.