The hypopharyngeal diverticulum. A simultaneous cineradiographic and manometric examination.

The upper esophageal sphincter (UES) was studied in 10 patients with symptomatic hypopharyngeal diverticulum during rest and at deglutition using simultaneous cineradiography and manometry by means of triple pressure microtransducers. In all 10, cineradiographic examinations were performed. Occurrence of double pressure peaks was examined in 8/10. In 7/10, the length and resting pressure of the UES could be determined. In 5/10, the UES pressure could be recorded when the bolus was in the pharynx and in 6/10 when it reached the UES. The pressure below the neck of the diverticulum at the time when the bolus reached the diverticular entrance, was of the same magnitude or exceeded the resting pressure of the UES in 4 patients and was approximately 0 kPa in 2 patients. In 3 patients the UES contraction was elicited as soon as the bolus entered the pharynx and remained so till it had passed the UES. In 3 patients the contrast bolus was seen to pass simultaneously into the diverticulum and into the esophagus, even though the sphincter was contracted. It is plausible that the pharyngeal wall gives way when a bolus is forced against the contracted UES by the high peristaltic pressure forming a pulsion diverticulum as postulated already by Zenker in 1878. Double pressure peaks were registered in the UES at rest in 6 patients indicating a split between the muscle bundles in the sphincter.