GIANT ZENKER DIVERTICULA AS AN OBJECT OF X-RAY STUDY

The article presents the clinical cases of giant Zenker diverticula. These pharyngeal-esophageal diverticula form in the weak points of the posterior pharyngeal wall at the level of the cricoid tracheal cartilage, as well as in Lanier-Haeckerman and Laimor areas, where there are places not covered by muscles. The clinical picture is often non-specific. Zenker diverticula of small size (up to 2 cm), as a rule, are asymptomatic and can be detected occasionally during examination for other diseases. But when the outpouching increases in size, complaints of sore throat, cough, difficulty in swallowing food, bad breath, regurgitation, etc. appear. Pharyngeal-esophageal diverticula are often complicated by diverticulitis, which can cause scar formation and fusion of the esophagus with nearby tissues, development of neck phlegmon, mediastinitis, sepsis, etc. Therefore, accurate, timely diagnosis and treatment of diverticula are necessary. Our clinical cases are unique due to the large size of the identified Zenker diverticula. A clinical and X-ray examinataion of patient Z., 59 years old and patient P., 64 years old was conducted. The patients came to the department of thoracic surgery of the Regional Clinical Hospital in Ryazan with complaints of discomfort and impaired swallowing, which have been observed for two years or more. Endoscopic and X-ray examination were conducted. The latter included roentgenoscopy of the esophagus with artificial contrasting with barium sulphate solution followed by a series of radiographs. In both cases, Zenker diverticula of very large size (gigantic) were detected, which is a relatively rare case. Surgical treatment was successful.