Lateral Cervical Esophageal Diverticulum


KEY FACTS

Terminology

  • Synonym: Killian-Jamieson diverticulum

  • Lateral outpouching from proximal cervical esophagus below cricopharyngeus muscle

Imaging

  • Small, smoothly marginated lateral sac

  • Usually unilateral , left sided

  • Bilateral in 25%; rarely unilateral, right sided

  • Diameter: 0.2-5.0 cm; average: 1.4 cm

  • Barium swallow (frontal & lateral) best imaging tool

    • Lateral sac; overlaps anterior esophageal wall

  • Incidental finding on CECT/MR

    • Round or oval mass lateral to esophagus

    • Abuts and may displace left thyroid lobe &/or common carotid artery anteriorly

    • Contents may be air, fluid, food debris, or mixed

Top Differential Diagnoses

  • Esophago-pharyngeal (Zenker) diverticulum

  • Thyroid carcinoma nodal metastasis

  • Parathyroid cyst

Pathology

  • Protrusion through Killian-Jamieson triangle in anterolateral wall of cervical esophagus

    • Zenker at posterior midline Killian dehiscence

Clinical Issues

  • Rare, usually asymptomatic, incidental imaging finding

  • May have dysphagia from pharyngeal dysmotility

  • Respiratory symptoms uncommon

    • Cricopharyngeus prevents reflux to hypopharynx

  • Most not surgically treated due to asymptomatic nature

    • Diverticulectomy ± esophagomyotomy if symptomatic

Axial CECT shows an air-filled diverticulum
interposed between the cervical esophagus, left thyroid lobe
, and common carotid. Note the air "points"
toward esophagus, a clue to its origin.

Frontal esophagram shows a prominent diverticular outpouching
from the left lateral cervical esophageal wall
compatible with a lateral cervical esophageal diverticulum (Killian-Jamieson). This lesion is below the level of the indentation from the cricopharyngeus muscle
.

Axial T2 FS MR shows an irregular mass
lateral to the cervical esophagus
. The mass has an air-fluid level with hyperintense fluid layering posteriorly and subtly "points" toward the cervical esophagus
, suggesting its organ of origin.

Axial T1 C+ FS MR reveals an esophageal diverticulum as an air-filled hypointense structure
in the lower neck posterior to the left thyroid lobe
and lateral to the cervical esophagus
. The left common carotid artery is also displaced anteriorly, lateral to the thyroid.

TERMINOLOGY

Synonyms

  • Killian-Jamieson diverticulum, proximal lateral cervical esophageal diverticulum

  • Lateral pharyngoesophageal diverticulum

Definitions

  • Lateral outpouching from proximal cervical esophagus

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