Congenital and Acquired Epiphrenic Diverticula of the Oesophagus

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The aetiology, pathology and radiology of epiphrenic diverticula of the esophagus are discussed and the literature reviewed with emphasis on those diverticula of congenital origin. Two cases of epiphrenic diverticula are reported in detail. One of them was a congenital diverticulum in a 61-year-old woman with 2 years'' history of dysphagia and substernal pain. It showed muscular activity radiologically, and at thoracotomy there was no fibrous adhesion to adjacent structures. Histological examination of the excised diverticulum showed a 2-layered muscularis propria. This diverticulum had all the characteristics of a spherical duplication luminally connected with the esophagus, this being the 1st adult case recorded with radiological and pathological documentary evidence. The 2d case represented an acquired epiphrenic pulsion diverticulum which was combined with 2 duodenal diverticula. Two other cases of acquired epiphrenic pulsion diverticula are mentioned. One of these also had an associated jejunal diverticulum.

This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit: