Zenker’s Diverticulum

Epidemiology

The cricopharyngeal muscle, which arises from both sides of the cricoid cartilage to form a continuous muscle band, rings the opening of the esophagus. These fibers blend with the inferior constrictor muscle superiorly and the inner circular fibers of the esophagus inferiorly. There is a potential gap posteriorly (Killian’s dehiscence) between the cricopharyngeal and inferior constrictor muscles where a diverticulum may originate. In 1878 Zenker described the classical clinicopathologic findings of 34 patients with pharyngoesophageal diverticula. The true incidence of pharyngoesophageal diverticula is unknown but they have been reported in 0.1% of 20,000 barium studies. Pharyngoesophageal diverticula typically affect elderly white patients and are more frequently encountered in females.