Opinion statement
The treatment of patients with a Zenker’s diverticulum is endoscopic or surgical. Whichever procedure is chosen, the most important component of the procedure is a thorough cricopharyngeal myotomy. This can be accomplished either externally through a neck incision or internally with an endoscope. The endoscopic approach, which accomplishes only a myotomy and not a resection of the diverticulum, is most useful when the diverticulum is moderate in size. If the pouch is small, the endoscopic approach is riskier because there may be an inadequate protection against perforation of the pharynx; an external myotomy alone is preferable. If the pouch is large, then an external approach can accomplish both the myotomy as well as a diverticulopexy. If the pouch is extremely large, then an external myotomy and diverticulectomy would be the procedures of choice.
Similar content being viewed by others
References and Recommended Reading
Cook IJ, Gabb M, Panagopoulos V, et al.: Pharyngeal (Zenker’s) diverticulum is a disorder of upper esophageal opening. Gastroenterology 1992, 103:1229–1335. Various measurements of upper esophageal sphincter function in Zenker’s patients are studied.
Cook IJ, Blumbergs P, Cash K, et al.: Structural abnormalities of the cricopharyngeus muscle in patients with pharyngeal (Zenker’s) diverticulum. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 1992, 7:556–562. This study examines the actual structure of the cricopharyngeal muscle in patients with Zenker’s divertilulum.
vanOverbeek JJM: Meditation on the pathogenesis of hypopharyngeal (Zenker’s) diverticulum and a report of endoscopic treatment in 545 patients. Am Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1994, 103:178–185. As the title states, the author discusses the pathogenesis and endoscopic treatment of a vast series of patients treated with the endoscopic approach.
Shapiro J, vanOverbeek JJM: Endoscopic laser cricopharyngeal myotomy. Op Tech Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1997, 8:209–212.
Kuhn FA, Bent JP: Zenker’s diverticulum using the KTP/532 laser. Laryngoscope 1992, 102:946–950.
Kelly JA: External approach to cricopharyngeus muscle (CP) myotomy. Op Tech Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1997, 8:193–198.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shapiro, J. Zenker’s diverticulum. Curr Treat Options Gastro 5, 81–84 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11938-002-0010-5
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11938-002-0010-5