Anterior neopharyngeal diverticulum following laryngectomy

Abstract

While less common than stricture, recurrent neoplasm, and neuromuscular dysfunction, neopharyngeal diverticulum must be considered in the differential diagnosis of postlaryngectomy dysphagia. Symptoms of difficulty clearing the neopharynx during and after a swallow, with regurgitation of undigested material, should alert the clinician to this possibility. Experience with 3 postlaryngectomy patients with anterior neopharyngeal divericulae serve as the springboard for discussion of the clinical spectrum, radiologic features, contributory pathophysiologic factors, and therapeutic options concerning this condition. Surgical indications, approaches, and potential hazards are reviewed.

Conservative Management of a Large Postlaryngectomy Neopharyngeal Diverticulum

“…If the diverticulum gives rise to disabling symptoms or complications, surgical repair should be considered [1]. Surgical intervention was avoided in the case reported here.…”

Management of Zenker's diverticulum and Postlaryngectomy pseudodiverticulum with the CO2 laser

“…15 During an internal approach, the partition between the diverticulum and the cervical esophagus is incised or excised endoscopically with the CO 2 laser 16,17 or other cutting devices. 1,6,18 Because experience with this kind of surgery, especially with the CO 2 laser, is limited, we present our technique and results achieved with this method and discuss the different treatment modalities for these types of diverticula. ticulum, and in 11 patients it was attributed to a pseudodiverticulum after laryngectomy.…”

Anteriores Pseudodivertikel nach Laryngektomie

“…Für diese Aussackung wurde wegen der Ähnlichkeit mit einem Zenker-Divertikel der Begriff des "anterior neopharyngeal diverticulum" [3] bzw. des "vallecular pseudodiverticulum" [4,10] geprägt. Aus semantischen Gründen ziehen wir den Begriff des anterioren Pseudodivertikels jedoch vor.…”

“…Aus semantischen Gründen ziehen wir den Begriff des anterioren Pseudodivertikels jedoch vor. Das Narbensegel wird wegen seiner Lage und seiner Ähnlich-keit mit der Epiglottis gelegentlich Pseudoepiglottis genannt [2,10].…”