Esophagus
Other nonneoplastic
Diverticula
Author: Elliot Weisenberg, M.D.
Last author update: 1 November 2012
Last staff update: 14 September 2023
Copyright: 2003-2025, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Diverticula[TI] esophagus[TI]
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Types | Case reports | Gross images | Microscopic (histologic) imagesCite this page: Weisenberg E. Diverticula. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/esophagusdiverticula.html. Accessed January 13th, 2025.
Definition / general
- Outpouching of alimentary tract containing all visceral layers (eMedicine: Zenker Diverticulum [Accessed 14 February 2019])
- May cause obstruction, aspiration pneumonia, abscess, infection, hemorrhage or be associated with malignancy
Types
- Zenker diverticula: also called pharyngoesophageal or pulsion diverticula; most common esophageal diverticula (~70%), more common in elderly; above upper esophageal sphincter, usually posterior wall; due to disordered cricopharyngeal motor dysfunction or weakness in esophageal wall at junction with pharynx; at junction between the pharynx and esophagus (known as the Killian triangle), may accumulate food, cause regurgitation or aspiration pneumonia or simulate a neck mass; malignancy in 0.3%
- Mid esophageal / traction diverticula: near mid esophagus at level of tracheal bifurcation; becoming uncommon; previously mostly due to tuberculosis, mediastinal lymphadenitis and scarring; may be due to motor dysfunction, congenital or alkali ingestion (Med Hypotheses 2004;62:931); better prognosis than distal disease (Dysphagia 2006;21:198)
- Epiphrenic diverticula: rare; immediately above lower esophageal sphincter (LES); due to lack of coordination of peristalsis and LES relaxation (Am J Surg 2005;190:891); often associated with hiatal hernia, may cause nocturnal regurgitation of massive amounts of fluid, obstruction, aspiration; contains mucosa, submucosa and muscularis mucosae; lined by squamous epithelium, often markedly inflamed
- False or pseudodiverticula: mucosa and submucosa only, rare, usually with diffuse esophageal spasm
Case reports
- 47 year old man with epiphrenic diverticula with fatal hemorrhage (Arch Pathol Lab Med 2006;130:867)
- Squamous cell carcinoma in Zenker diverticula (Dis Esophagus 2007;20:75)
Gross images
Images hosted on other servers:
Epiphrenic diverticula
Microscopic (histologic) images
Images hosted on other servers:
Epiphrenic diverticulum
