2021 Volume 114 Issue 5 Pages 385-389
Killian-Jamieson diverticulum is an outpouching of the esophagus on the anterior aspect through the Killian-Jamieson space, between the most lateral aspect of the transverse part of the inferior margin of the cricopharyngeus muscle and the cricoid cartilage attachment of the esophageal longitudinal muscle. There has long been diagnostic confusion between Zenker diverticulum and Killian-Jamieson diverticulum, and it is important to differentiate between the two. Herein, we report a case of Killian-Jamieson diverticulum.
The patient was a 55-year-old woman in whom neck ultrasonography during a medical examination revealed a tumor in the left thyroid lobe. While we initially suspected Zenker diverticulum, measurement of the swallowing pressure showed a flat-pressured UES, which is not the usual finding in cases of Zenker diverticulum, and we suspected Killian-Jamieson diverticulum. Finally, the surgical findings confirmed the diagnosis of Killian-Jamieson diverticulum. Her clinical course was good, with no hoarseness nor evidence of obstruction. A Zenker diverticulum often protrudes on the median line. In this case, the surgical findings confirmed the final diagnosis, but to the best of our knowledge, there are no reports of measurement of the swallowing pressure in cases of Killian-Jamieson diverticulum. Based on our findings, we suggest that preoperative measurement of the swallowing pressure may help in differentiating Killian-Jamieson diverticulum from Zenker diverticulum.
