Optimal Therapy for Cricopharyngeal Diverticula.

Cricopharyngeal diverticula (also known as Zenker΄s diverticula) are protrusions of pharyngeal mucosa through an area of relative weakness in the posterior wall of the pharynx, in the so-called Killian΄s triangle between the obliquely-positioned inferior constrictor muscle and the transversely-oriented cricopharyngeal muscle.¹ A higher hypopharyngeal pressure during swallowing and a lower resistance of the posterior wall of the hypopharynx are fundamental factors in the pathogenesis of cricopharyngeal diverticula. Cricopharyngeal spasm, cricopharyngeal incoordination, impaired upper esophageal sphincter opening, and structural changes in the cricopharyngeal muscle have all been implicated in the etiology of Zenker΄s diverticula.^2,3 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]