Zenker's diverticulum A rare cause of dysphagia

Zenker's diverticulum or pharyngeal pouch is a herniation of pharyngeal mucosa through a defect located on the posterior pharyngeal wall, in an area of natural weakness between the 2 parts of the inferior constrictor muscles. The incidence of presentation of pharyngeal pouch to an ear, nose, throat (ENT) specialist was estimated as 0.47 cases per 100,000 per year. It could be a rare cause of dysphagia in elderly patients, associated with regurgitation, chronic cough, aspiration, and weight loss. The etiology still unknown, but theories focus upon structural or physiological disorders of the cricopharyngeus muscle. Zenker's diverticulum should be considered as one of the rare causes of dysphagia in elderly patients, and the treatment modalities depend on individual experience and availability of the facilities. Saudi Med J 2013; Vol. 34 (1): 91-93