Killian-Jamieson Diverticulum: A Rare Cause Of Dysphagia

Killian-Jamieson Diverticulum: A Rare Cause Of Dysphagia

Write a short note on Killian’s dehiscence and pharyngeal diverticulum.
Answer.

There is a small, triangular region in the lower part of the posterior wall of the pharynx (the junctional region between the thyropharyngeus and cricopharyngeus), which is not covered by muscles. This weak area is termed Killian’s dehiscence. The mucosa and submucosa of the pharyngeal wall may bulge out through this weak area to form the pharyngeal diverticulum/Zenker’s diverticulum.

This diverticulum occurs due to neuromuscular incoordination between propulsive thyropharyngeus muscle (supplied by the external laryngeal nerve) and sphincteric cricopharyngeus muscle (supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerve).