Carcinoma arising in posterior pharyngeal pulsion diverticulum (Zenker's diverticulum)

Carcinoma is a rare but recognized complication of posterior pharyngeal pulsion (Zenker's diverticulum). Such diverticula merit radiological and endoscopic examination before operation. Surgery is preferred to radiotherapy in the treatment of carcinoma, the choice of operation resting between one-stage diverticulectomy for cancer confined to the body of the sac and pharyngolaryngectomy for more extensive lesions.