Severe halitosis as presentation of epiphrenic diverticulum.

Halitosis is a common condition, whose main etiology does not respond to diseases of the gastrointestinal system. Epiphrenic diverticula are a rare cause of this manifestation, thus they are not frequent and they are usually asymptomatic. However, they may produce symptoms with inability for patient. A patient with severe halitosis is presented. In his study, an epiphrenic diverticulum is diagnosed and the laparoscopic abdominal diverticulectomy is performed with a complete resolution of symptomatology.

Esophageal diverticula and cancer.

Esophageal diverticula are rare. The association of cancer and diverticula has been described. Some authors adopt a conservative non-surgical approach in selected patients with diverticula whereas others treat the symptoms by diverticulopexy or myotomy only, leaving the diverticulum in situ. However, the risk of malignant degeneration should be may be taken in account if the diverticulum is not resected. The correct evaluation of the possible risk factors for malignancy may help in the decision making process. We performed a literature review of esophageal diverticula and cancer. The incidence of cancer in a diverticulum is 0.3-7, 1.8, and 0.6% for pharyngoesophageal, midesophageal, and epiphrenic diverticula, respectively. Symptoms may mimic those of the diverticulum or underlying motor disorder. Progressive dysphagia, unintentional weight loss, the presence of blood in the regurgitated material, regurgitation of peaces of the tumor, odynophagia, melena, hemathemesis, and hemoptysis are key symptoms. Risk factors for malignancy are old age, male gender, long-standing history, and larger diverticula. A carcinoma may develop in treated diverticula, even after resection. Outcomes are usually quoted as dismal because of a delayed diagnosis but several cases of superficial carcinoma have been described. The treatment follows the same principals as the therapy for esophageal cancer; however, diverticulectomy is enough in cases of superficial carcinomas. Patients must be carefully evaluated before therapy and a long-term follow-up is advisable.

Videothoracoscopic management of middle esophageal diverticulum with secondary bronchoesophageal fistula: report of a case.

Middle esophageal diverticulum is rare, but can result in bronchoesophageal fistula. Previous reports have described open surgical techniques to treat esophageal diverticula, but few have evaluated the effectiveness of a videothoracoscopy approach. We report a case of middle esophageal diverticulum associated with bronchoesophageal fistula, managed successfully with videothoracoscopy. We also review the relevant literature.

Esophageal diverticulum in an infant with Down's syndrome and type III esophageal atresia.

An 18-month-old infant with Down's syndrome presented with a symptomatic esophageal diverticulum (ED) located at the cervical esophagus. He had been operated on successfully for an esophageal atresia and distal tracheoesophageal fistula in the newborn period. Neither surgical maneuvers nor esophageal trauma could explain the ED, which was resected through a cervical approach.

[Esophageal pathology associated with achalasia]. / Patología esofágica asociada a la acalasia.

Out of 90 patients with esophageal achalasia seen during the last decade, we found associated esophageal pathology in 46,6% of the cases. The esophagitis occurred with a frequency of 26,6%, whereas esophageal hiatus hernia was found in 14,4%, benign esophageal stenosis in 5,5%, diverticula in 2,2% and tumors in 2,2%. The role of the different ethiopatogeneic factors is discussed as well as the approach to the above mentioned entities.