Duplication of the cervical oesophagus in adults

An adult male patient with duplication cyst of the cervical oesophagus is reported. Benign tumours of the oesophagus are rare and amongst them the congenital cysts form a small group. Only four cases of duplication of the cervical oesophagus have been reported in the literature, all initially presenting in children. Patients usually present with pressure symptoms due to rapid enlargement of the cyst secondary to bleeding or infection. Diagnosis previously has been suggested by barium swallow and oesophagoscopy. Computed tomography (CT) clearly demonstrated the oesophageal duplication. This report describes the first patient to present with a cervical duplication of the oesophagus in adulthood and only the second in whom CT has been used to establish the diagnosis. Surgical excision is recommended in all patients with duplication cysts of the cervical oesophagus.