Giant epiphrenic diverticulum: an unusual case from diagnosis to treatment

Abstract

Esophageal diverticulum is a rare disease caused by impairment of esophageal motility. The incidence is not known, due to lack of symptoms in many cases. Surgical treatment is reserved to symptomatic patients. In this case report, we describe a rare case of epiphrenic esophageal diverticulum. A 61-year-old male with silent medical history, suffering severe chest pain had a CT scan showing a large esophageal diverticulum. The patient was referred to our hospital, IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza”, to complete pre-operative assessment with a CT scan and a Barium swallowing radiography, giving morphodimensional details of the diverticulum. Based on these findings, the surgeons have chosen the appropriate operative strategy. The surgeons adopted a laparoscopic access, completed with robotic-assisted laparotomy due to the morphology of the diverticulum. Radiological evaluation is crucial in the diagnosis and in the treatment planning of symptomatic patients.

Divertículo de Grenet en paciente masculino de 58 años. Reporte de Caso

“…Estos divertículos surgen de la mucosa y submucosa y sobresalen a través de debilidades en la capa muscular del esófago, clasificándolos como falsos o verdaderos divertículos. (1,2) Esta debilidad anatómica en la capa muscular es donde entran los nervios y vasos sanguíneos para irrigar el esófago distal. El divertículo de grenet es un tipo raro de divertículo esofágico, cuya prevalencia varía entre estudios y países, oscilando entre el 0,015% y el 2%.…”