Presentation
History of regurgitation, dysphagia, and intense halitosis for about 4 years.
Patient Data
Note: This case has been tagged as "legacy" as it no longer meets image preparation and/or other case publication guidelines.
Diverticulum with a long neck through the posterior wall of the esophagus, compatible with a Zenker diverticulum.
Case Discussion
Zenker diverticulum (named after German pathologist Friedrich Albert von Zenker) is an acquired diverticulum of the pharynx. It is a pulsion diverticulum, resulting from dyscoordination of upper oesophagal sphincter peristalsis and subsequent herniation of the oesophagal mucosa and submucosa. It is therefore not functional pharyngeal/oesophagal anatomy. The diverticulum occurs through Killian's triangle, along the midline, the weakest portion of the hypopharyngeal musculature.
A Zenker diverticulum characteristically projects posteriorly, in the prevertebral soft tissues. This diverticulum, because of its mass effect, can cause difficulty with breathing and dysphagia and can lead to regurgitation and halitosis.
These can be treated surgically.
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