The typical traction diverticulum of the mid-thoracic esophagus is conical or funnel shaped with a wide orifice, is small (rarely exceeding 2cm in length), and is situated horizontally or extends superiorly.
It is a true diverticulum, having a complete investment by the esophageal muscle coats.
Each of these characteristics promotes easy emptying of the diverticulum. Since food accumulation is presented, there is no tendency to progressive enlargement of the sac, and no associated dysphagia.
The diverticula of mid-esophagus rarely develop and rarely produce symptoms.
When symptoms develop, they are usually caused by granulomatous infections of the mediastinal lymphnodes.
And also such diverticula only rarely give rise to significant complications, the most serious of, which is a tracheobronchial fistula.
Generally when such complications develop or a diverticulum itself produces symptoms, moderate or severe, surgery intervenes.
A case of mid-esophageal diverticulum, traction type, which surgically treated with good resultswas experienced at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Kyung-Pook University, School of Medicine.
In this case, there were substernal discomfort, acid regurgitation, and back pain for about 6 months.
On the operative findings, it was noticed that the diverticulum was developed by traction and adhesion of perihilar nodes´ to the esophageal wall. The diverticulum was a small finger tip size and the neck of it was obscure. The surrounding inflammatory change was minimal..
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