Two Cases of Pharyngoesophageal Diverticulum (Zenker's Diverticulum)

In Japan, Zenker's diverticulum is a rare disease, with less than fifty cases thus far reported. The authors reported two cases of Zenker's diverticulum and discussed their clinical features and the cause of this disease and its treatment. A 69-year-old woman complained of swallowing difficulty, showed stenosis of the pharyngoesophageal region on fluoroscopic examination. After removing food under esophagoscopy, a large diverticulum was found. The second case, a 61-year-old man with a severe“lump”sensation of the throat was introduced to our clinic by a private practitioner. The patient received an endoscopic examination, however, a flexible fiberscope could not be inserted beyond the hypopharynx. Radiopharyngography demonstrated Zenker's diverticulum. In each case, diverticulectomy was performed according to Montgomery's technique without cricopharyngeal myotomy. The symptoms disappeard after the operation. Both pathological examinations diagnosed a pulsion diverticulum with a moderate chronic inflammatory infiltrate. There was no malignant tissue in either case.