Zenker's diverticulum: a rare clinical condition with unusual oral manifestation

Oral mucosa exhibit clinical manifestations of a variety of systemic conditions and can serve as an indicator of overall health of an individual. Various systemic conditions like autoimmune, endocrine and haematological disorders can present with oral mucosal lesions, which can serve as an important diagnostic feature. These oral lesions can vary from oral ulceration, bleeding gums, xerostomia, chronic glossitis, to erosion and sensitivity of teeth. It is important that a clinician must be aware of the oral presentations of systemic conditions, so that timely diagnosis can be made and the necessary treatment is executed. This paper presents an unusual case of severe oral mucosal ulcerations and dysphagia in an elderly patient diagnosed with Zenker's diverticulum. Patient was relieved of all oral symptoms once the underlying gastrointestinal tract pathology was diagnosed and surgically corrected.