Cricopharyngeus Muscle Dysfunction and Hypopharyngeal Diverticula (e.g., Zenker): A Multicenter Study

Laryngoscope. 2023 Jun;133(6):1349-1355. doi: 10.1002/lary.30387. Epub 2022 Sep 14.

Abstract

Objective: To describe demographics and imaging and compare findings and symptoms at presentation in a large cohort of persons with cricopharyngeus muscle dysfunction (CPMD) with and without hypopharyngeal diverticula.

Methodology: Prospective, multicenter cohort study of all individuals enrolled in the Prospective OUtcomes of Cricopharyngeal Hypertonicity (POUCH) Collaborative. Patient survey, comorbidities, radiography, laryngoscopy findings, and patient-reported outcome measures (e.g., Eating Assessment Tool [EAT-10]) data were abstracted from a REDCap database and summarized using means, medians, percentages, and frequencies. Diagnostic categories were compared using analysis of variance.

Results: A total of 250 persons were included. The mean age (standard deviation [SD]) of the cohort was 69.0 (11.2). Forty-two percent identified as female. Zenker diverticula (ZD) was diagnosed in 85.2%, 9.2% with CPMD without diverticula, 4.4% with a Killian Jamieson diverticula (KJD), and 1.2% traction-type diverticula. There were no differences between diagnostic categories in regard to age, gender, and duration of symptoms (p = 0.25, 0.19, 0.45). The mean (SD) EAT-10 score for each group was 17.1 (10.1) for ZD, 20.2 (9.3) for CPMD, and 10.3 (9.4) for KJD. Patients with isolated CPMD had significantly greater EAT-10 scores compared to the other diagnostic groups (p = 0.03).

Conclusion: ZD is the most common, followed by CPMD without diverticula, KJD, and traction-type. Patients with isolated obstructing CPMD may be more symptomatic than persons with ZD or KJD.

Level of evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 133:1349-1355, 2023.

Keywords: CPMD; Killian Jamieson; Zenker; cricopharyngeal bar; cricopharyngeal dysfunction; cricopharyngeus muscle dysfunction; hypopharyngeal diverticulum; pharyngoesophageal dysphagia.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cohort Studies
  • Esophageal Diseases*
  • Esophageal Sphincter, Upper
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Muscular Diseases*
  • Pharyngeal Diseases*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Zenker Diverticulum* / complications
  • Zenker Diverticulum* / surgery