Surgical Intervention for Laimer’s Diverticulum, a Rare Type of Pharyngoesophageal Diverticulum: A Case Report

Abstract

P haryngoesophageal diverticula, classified as Zenker’s, Killian-Jamieson’s, or Laimer’s diverticulum depending on the respective site of origin, are very rare. Zenker’s diverticula are the most common type of pharyngoesophageal diverticulum, accounting for 0.01% to 0.11% of all gastrointestinal diverticula. This diverticulum arises from Killian’s triangle, the space between the thyropharyngeus and cricopharyngeal muscles. Laimer’s diverticulum, arising from Laimer-Haeckerman’s triangle to the dorsal side, located below the cricopharyngeal muscle, is even more rare, with only 3 cases reported in the English literature. Because surgeries for Laimer’s and Zenker’s diverticula are different, preoperative differential diagnosis is important. We experienced a very rare case of Laimer’s diverticulum, diagnosed intraoperatively. In this case, diagnosis enabled effective treatment, so we present this case and discuss various considerations surrounding differential diagnosis. This case study was approved by the ethics committee of Tohoku University Hospital, Miyagi, Japan.