Pharyngeal pouch

Question 1

Features of pharyngeal pouch

Answer 1

dysphagia
regurgitation
aspiration
neck swelling which gurgles on palpation
halitosis

Question 2

Investigation of pharyngeal pouch

Answer 2

barium swallow combined with dynamic video fluoroscopy

Question 3

What is pharyngeal pouch?

Answer 3

A pharyngeal pouch (also known as Zenker’s diverticulum) is a posteromedial diverticulum through Killian’s dehiscence.

Killian’s dehiscence is a triangular area in the wall of the pharynx between the thyropharyngeus and cricopharyngeus muscles.

It is more common in older patients and is 5 times more common in men

Question 4

What is the Killian’s dehiscence?

Answer 4

Killian’s dehiscence is a triangular area in the wall of the pharynx between the thyropharyngeus and cricopharyngeus muscles.

Question 5

What would see in the barium swallow when looking for pharyngeal pouch?

Answer 5

Image would be taken from a barium swallow with fluoroscopy.

During swallowing an outpouching of the posterior hypopharyngeal wall is visualised at the level C5-C6, right above the upper oesophageal sphincter