Killian-Jamieson diverticulitis with cervical cellulitis: report of a case

A Killian-Jamieson (K-J) diverticulum is an uncommon hypopharyngeal diverticulum related to the better-recognized Zenker's diverticulum. Cervical cellulitis due to K-J diverticulitis is also highly exceptional. We report the case of a 53-year-old woman with cervical cellulitis caused by K-J diverticulitis. The cellulitis was cured by the administration of an antibiotic agent. The patient underwent a resection of the K-J diverticulum 2 months after the cellulitis was cured. The cervical diverticulum was judged to be a K-J diverticulum because the diverticulum prolapsed laterally just below the cricopharyngeus muscle on the esophagogram. The left recurrent laryngeal nerve adhered to the proximity of the orifice of the diverticulum. The recurrent laryngeal nerve was carefully preserved before the resection of the diverticulum. Accurate differential diagnosis between K-J and Zenker's diverticula is necessary before surgery to preserve the recurrent laryngeal nerve.