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Pharyngeal Pouch or Zenker's Diverticulum

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The pharyngeal pouch is formed in the pharynx (part of the throat). It is also referred to as Zenker's diverticulum. Read the article to know more.

Written byDr. Ruchika Raj
Published At April 3, 2023
Reviewed AtOctober 8, 2024

What Is Zenker’s Diverticulum?

The pharyngeal pouch or sac is formed in the pharynx. It is a very uncommon condition and affects mostly elderly people. It is also referred to as Zenker's diverticulum. The pouch or sac developed in the pharynx can aggravate from a small size to a larger size, resulting in worsening symptoms. The condition is mostly the result of fibrosis of the cricopharyngeus muscle (located at the upper end of the esophagus). The cricopharyngeal muscles usually relax during swallowing. The swallowing mechanism gets disrupted due to the tightening or hardening of the cricopharyngeus muscle because of fibrosis.

What Is the Incidence of Pharyngeal Pouch Formation?

  • The pharyngeal pouch or Zenker's diverticulum is most commonly seen in elderly patients, especially those who are 70 to 80 years old.

  • A pharyngeal pouch is very uncommon in people below 45 years.

What Are the Causes of Zenker's Diverticulum or Pharyngeal Pouch?

The cause of Zenker's diverticulum is not yet known; however, it is supposed to be caused by the weaker point of muscle located in the hypopharynx, which is called Killian's dehiscence area or Killian's triangle. The fibrosis of these muscles results in stiffening, disrupting the normal swallowing function.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Pharyngeal Pouch Formation?

Patients are asymptomatic if the sac or pouch formed is small. As the pharyngeal pouch enlarges, patients present with the following symptoms:

  • The deposit of food within the pouch results in pressure on the esophagus.

  • Dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing).

  • Loss of appetite results in weight loss.

  • Vomiting and choking are felt due to the liquid and food particles in the pouch.

  • Recurrent chest infections.

  • Acid reflux or regurgitation due to indigestion.

  • Infection.

  • Coughing sensation.

  • The sensation of the presence of a foreign body in the throat.

  • Aspiration pneumonia.

  • Halitosis (bad breath).

  • A lump in the neck.

  • Obstruction in the airway.

  • Change of voice.

What Are the Risk Factors?

Risk factors include the following:

  • Age: It mainly affects old aged people.

  • Sex: The condition mainly affects males and those assigned male at birth.

  • Other Disorders: Any condition that impacts the esophageal function.

What Are the Complications of Zenker’s Diverticulum?

The complications include aspiration pneumonia and malnutrition.

How to Diagnose Zenker's Diverticulum or Pharyngeal Pouch?

Various methods for diagnosing pharyngeal pouch are:

  • Clinical Examination and History: A thorough history of the patients should be recorded for the presenting signs and symptoms. Signs and symptoms like choking sensations, halitosis, acid reflux due to indigestion, and recurrent chest infection should be recorded carefully. A complete physical examination of the patient should be done to evaluate any lump or soft tissue mass in the neck.

  • Fluoroscopy: A barium swallow test followed by a computed tomographic scan or chest X-ray helps diagnose the pharyngeal pouch easily and detect patients with aspiration pneumonia. The pharyngeal pouch is usually observed between the C5 and C6 levels of vertebrae.

  • Endoscopic Examination: A flexible fiberoptic (tube with an attached camera) endoscope is used to examine the esophagus completely for the presence of a sac or pouch.

What Is the Treatment for the Formation of a Pharyngeal Pouch?

The pharyngeal pouch can be managed by:

  • Endoscopic Management: The endoscopic approach to treating the pharyngeal sac is comparatively simpler and has reduced risk than the open surgical approach. The surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia. This method introduces a tube into the food pipe through the mouth to approach the pouch. After reaching the pharyngeal pouch, a specialized stapler is used to cut the fibrotic walls to release the tension of the cricopharyngeus muscle. This technique is called endoscopic pharyngeal sac stapling.

  • Endoscopic Laser Cricopharyngeal Myotomy: This surgical procedure uses a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser to remove and release the fibrotic bands of the cricopharyngeus muscles and divide the pouch. The patient is monitored for a few days, and Ryle's feeding tube is given. A postoperative radiograph is taken to check for the healing of the esophagus.

  • Open Surgical Approach: In an open surgical procedure, a horizontal incision is given in the neck along the cricoid cartilage and an anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. The pharyngeal sac is identified using the endoscope and is excised or inverted based on the size of the pharyngeal sac. The larger pouch usually prefers excision (cutting by a surgical blade). The cut given is then closed with suture (stitches), and the patient is observed for a few days.

What Are the Advantages and Drawbacks of the Endoscopic Approach to Pharyngeal Pouch Removal?

The advantages and disadvantages associated with the endoscopic surgical approach are:

Advantages:

  • It is comparatively simpler and carries less risk than the open surgical approach.

  • Faster procedure.

  • No outer cuts are used.

Drawbacks:

  • Recurrence of the pharyngeal sac can occur.

  • Greater complication rates.

  • In the case of larger pharyngeal pouches, it is sometimes difficult to perform the procedure.

What Are the Advantages and Drawbacks of the Open Surgical Approach to Pharyngeal Pouch Removal?

The advantages and disadvantages associated with the open surgical approach are:

Advantages:

  • Multiple pouches can be treated using this method.

  • The risk of recurrence is shallow with an open surgical approach.

Disadvantages:

  • Need an external cut in the neck for performing surgery.

  • Scar formation is seen.

What Are the Complications Associated With Pharyngeal Pouch Surgery?

Various complications that may occur after surgery are:

  • Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Palsy: There is a risk of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy associated with the surgery. Injury to recurrent laryngeal nerves can result in hoarseness of voice.

  • Salivary Fistula: The risk of salivary leak increases after endoscopic surgery.

  • Hematoma: The risk of hematoma formation is associated with the surgery.

  • Recurrence: The pharyngeal pouch can recur after the surgery. The risk of recurrence is higher with an endoscopic approach than an open surgical approach.

What Is the Outlook of Pharyngeal Pouch?

The prognosis is generally good, but the likelihood of recurrence is high because the condition occurs when there is any abnormality in how throat muscles work.

How to Swallow Food With Zenker’s Diverticulum?

It is difficult to swallow food with this condition. The following suggestions will help ease swallow food:

  • Eat in small portions.

  • Chew the food well before swallowing.

  • Drink water between each bite.

Conclusion:

A pharyngeal pouch or Zenker's diverticulum is a rare infection involving the food pipe. It affects mostly the elderly age group and can cause mild to severe dysphagia. In addition, it affects the cricopharyngeal muscle, resulting in fibrosis. Early diagnosis and management of the pharyngeal sac are crucial to prevent associated symptoms like gastric regurgitation, recurrent chest infection, and aspiration pneumonia. Any delay in the management can result in enlargement of the pharyngeal pouch, which can exert pressure on the windpipe and cause respiratory obstruction.

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Frequently Asked Questions

 
The larynx is the part of the airway that lies between the pharynx and the trachea and houses the vocal cords and other organs necessary for vocal production. It comprises the major organs from the tissue called the epiglottis the vocal folds (vocal cords), which are attached to the glottis and are formed of a cartilaginous skeleton consisting of nine cartilages.
When air enters the body, it travels quickly to the pharynx, often known as the throat. Air can enter the body through either the mouth or the nose. After going through the larynx, often known as the voice box, it finally makes its way into the trachea. The trachea is a sturdy tube that has rings of cartilage along its inside that keep it from collapsing on itself.
 
The nasopharynx is the upper portion of the pharynx that facilitates the passage of oxygen between the nasal cavities. The oropharynx is an anatomical structure located in the center of the throat that connects to the oral cavity or mouth. This structure allows for the passage of air, sustenance, and liquid. The laryngopharynx, also referred to as the hypopharynx, was a structure located in the lower part of the throat in close contact with the larynx, or vocal box. This physiological mechanism regulates the entry of oxygen into the respiratory system and the entry of food and liquid into the esophagus.
During respiration, the pharynx is responsible for conducting air between the lungs and the trachea, also known as the windpipe, as well as facilitating the passage of food and liquids that have been eaten into the esophagus (also known as the gullet).
 
The thymus and parathyroid glands come from the endoderm gut tube, which is made up of a single layer of epithelial cells and gives rise to all organs that come from the intestinal tract through the formation of buds that grow out of the tube.
 
Near the bottom of the tongue, among the first and second pouches of the pharynx, the thyroid gland begins its development.
A Zenker's diverticulum, also known as a pharyngeal pouch, is an outpouching part of the pharynx that occurs at the level of the larynx (also known as the voice box). The fibrosis of an elastic band of muscle called the cricopharyngeus, which is located at the head of the esophagus, is the condition that causes pouches to develop in elderly patients.
 
The adult external auditory meatus (hearing organ) originates in the anatomic space generated by the first pharyngeal cleft among the first and second branchial arches. This area is located among the first and second branchial arches. The adult cervical sinus develops out of the space that is made available after the second, third, and fourth pharyngeal clefts are opened.
 
The thymus and the inferior section of the parathyroid emerge from the third pharyngeal pouch. The thymus is a main lymphoid organ that plays an important role in the formation as well as the selection of T lymphocytes.
 
The pharynx is a muscular channel inside the body that is structured like a funnel. It is most generally referred to as the throat. It links the mouth and nose to the esophagus, which in turn leads to the stomach, and the larynx, which in turn leads to the trachea, which in turn leads to the lungs.
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