Laimer's Diverticulum, A Rare True Diverticulum Inferior to the Cricopharyngeus: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature

Hypopharyngeal esophageal diverticula are rare with the most common type being the Zenker’s diverticulum. This diverticulum arises from Killian’s triangle above the cricopharyngeus muscle; however there are two much rarer hypopharyngeal diverticula distinct from the Zenker’s diverticulum, the Killian-Jamieson diverticulum and the Laimer’s diverticulum. We present a 46 year old male with a hypopharyngeal diverticulum inferior to the cricopharyngeus in the posterior midline consistent with a Laimer’s diverticulum, detail our surgical technique, and review the literature on the diagnosis, etiology, and treatment of this rare phenomenon.

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