| Zenker's diverticulum | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Pharyngoesophageal diverticulum, pharyngeal pouch, hypopharyngeal diverticulum |
 | |
| Specialty | Gastroenterology |
AZenker's diverticulum, alsopharyngeal pouch, is adiverticulum of themucosa of thehuman pharynx, just above thecricopharyngeal muscle (i.e. above the uppersphincter of theesophagus). It is a pseudo diverticulum or false diverticulum (only involving the mucosa and submucosa of the esophageal wall, not the adventitia), also known as a pulsion diverticulum.
It was named in 1877 afterGermanpathologistFriedrich Albert von Zenker.[1][2]
When there is excessive pressure within the lowerpharynx, the weakest portion of the pharyngeal wall balloons out, forming adiverticulum which may reach several centimetres in diameter.
While traction and pulsion mechanisms have long been deemed the main factors promoting development of a Zenker's diverticulum, current consensus considers occlusive mechanisms to be most important: uncoordinated swallowing, impaired relaxation and spasm of thecricopharyngeus muscle lead to an increase in pressure within the distal pharynx, so that its wall herniates through the point of least resistance (known asKillian's triangle, located superior to the cricopharyngeus muscle and inferior to the thyropharyngeus muscle. Thyropharyngeus and cricopharyngeus are the superior and inferior parts of inferior constrictor muscle of pharynx respectively). The result is an outpouching of the posterior pharyngeal wall, just above the esophagus.[3]
While it may be asymptomatic, Zenker diverticulum can present with the following symptoms:
It rarely, if ever, causes any pain.
Esophageal webs are seen associated in 50% of patients with this condition.
Rarer forms of cervical esophageal diverticula are theKillian's diverticulum and theLaimer's diverticulum.Killian's diverticulum is formed in the Killian-Jamiseon triangle (between the oblique and transverse fibers of thecricopharyngeus muscle).Laimer's diverticulum is formed in Laimer's triangle (located inferior to the cricopharyngeus in the posterior midline above the confluence of the longitudinal layer of the superior esophageal circular muscle). Laimer's triangle is covered only by the circular layer of esophageal muscle.
A combination of the simplebarium swallow and a thorough endoscopy will normally confirm thediverticulum.[4]
If small (ie, <2 cm) and asymptomatic, no treatment is necessary.[5] Larger, symptomatic cases of Zenker's diverticulum have been traditionally treated by necksurgery to resect thediverticulum and incise thecricopharyngeus muscle. However, in recent times non-surgical endoscopic techniques have gained more importance (as they allow for much faster recovery), and the currently preferred treatment is endoscopic stapling[6][7] (i.e. diverticulotomy with staples ). This may be performed through a diverticuloscope. Other methods include fibreoptic diverticular repair.[8]
Other non-surgical treatment modalities also exist, such as endoscopic laser, which recent evidence suggests is less effective than stapling.[9]
Zenker's diverticulum mainly affects older adults. It has an incidence of 2 per 100,000 per year in the UK, but there is significant geographical variation around the world.[10]