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Endoscopy 2001; 33(11): 991-997
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-826106
The Expert Approach
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Zenker's Diverticulum: Treatment Using a Flexible Endoscope

C. J. J. Mulder1 , G.  Costamagna2 , P.  Sakai3
  • 1Dept. of Gastroenterology, Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, The Netherlands
  • 2Dept.of Surgery, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
  • 3Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Unit, University of Sãao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
The aim of the Expert Approach section is to contribute to the dissemination and standardization of new endoscopie procedures. Authors from three distinct geographic areas combine forces, sharing their experience to form a consensus of opinion. Readers' comments are welcome and will be published in the Mailbox which appears at the end of each Expert Approach article.Committee:Chairman: R. Lambert (Lyon)Specialists: R. Kozarek (Seattle), H. Inoue (Tokyo), P. Sakai (Sao Paulo), H. Neuhaus (Düsseldorf), C. Neumann (Birmingham)
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Publication Date:
25 October 2004 (online)

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Introduction

The pharyngoesophageal diverticulum has been called Zenker's diverticulum (ZD); we define the latter as a posterior diverticulum with its neck proximal to the cricopharyngeal muscle. Most authors consider such pouches to be a type of esophageal diverticulum. Diverticula are outpouchings of one or more layers of the esophageal wall, and occur in three main areas: 1) immediately above the upper esophageal sphincter (ZD); 2) near the midpoint of the esophagus (traction diverticulum); and 3) immediately above the lower esophageal sphincter (epiphrenic diverticulum).

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C J J MulderM.D. 

Dept. of Gastroenterology Rijnstate Hospital Arnhem

PO Box 9555 Arnhem 6800 TA The Netherlands

Fax: + 31-26-3786737

Email: cjmulder@rijnstate.nl

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Readers' comments (maximum 200 words, no illustrations) on published topics are welcome, and appear here. Readers are also invited to suggest topics of interest to The Expert Approach committee. All correspondence should be addressed to R. Lambert, M.D., preferably by email. Address: International Agency for Research on Cancer, 150 cours Albert Thomas, Lyon 693 72 cedex, France. Fax: +33-4-7273-8650, email: lambert@iarc.fr.