[Etiology of esophageal diverticula (the 225th anniversary of the first report on esophageal diverticula].

On the basis of survey of the special literature about the etiology of diverticula of the oesophagus, author stressed that the origin of the disease still remain unclear. Apparently, the scientists did not take into account the polyetiological factors in origin of the oesophagus' diverticula. Besides, the opinion of on benignity of diverticula and the absence of detailed classification of them were also hindrances to establishment of the problem. The clinical significance of asymptomatic diverticula of the oesophagus, according to the author's experience is not limited to the possible occurrence of complications (diverticulitis, etc). So, between 909 patients subjected to x-ray examination of the oesophagus in 106 (11.6%) of cases were found diverticula of it. In the aged group (59/336)--17.5% and in the cancerous patients even--23.4% (17/72). Diverticula of the oesophagus were found in other groups also (pulmonary tuberculosis--6.1% (6/64), bronchial cancer--5% (7/140), etc. Proceed from this the author counts that in number of cases oesophagus' diverticula are in indirect symptom of different (often severe) affections of the adjacent or distant organs.