Dysphagia in oesophageal intramural pseudo-diverticulosis: fibrosis, dysmotility or web?

We describe two cases of oesophageal intramural pseudo-diverticulosis associated with a cervical oesophageal web presenting as intermittent dysphagia. In both cases, disruption of the web endoscopically resulted in lasting relief from symptoms. This observation, together with a review of the literature written during the past 39 years, suggests that oesophageal web formation may be under-reported in this condition and may be more important than either dysmotility or submucosal fibrosis and stricturing in the aetiology of the dysphagia seen in these patients. All patients with a radiological diagnosis of oesophageal intramural pseudo-diverticulosis should have an endoscopic examination which may be both diagnostic and potentially therapeutic.