Pharyngoesophageal diverticulum mimicking thyroid nodules: Some interesting ultrasonographic signs

To analyze the ultrasonographic features of pharyngoesophageal diverticulum (PED) mimicking thyroid nodules and to explore the clinical value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of PED.

The sonographic findings of 68 patients with PED were retrospectively reviewed. According to the diverticulum echo intensity characteristics, the lesions were divided into solid nodular diverticulum, gas-containing nodular diverticulum, liquid-containing nodular diverticulum, and atypical diverticular changes; and the ultrasonographic manifestations were compared among the four groups.

30/68 were solid nodular diverticula. The diverticulum cavity was oval or elliptic with a clear border, and the diverticulum wall suggested exhibited a typical hyper-hypo-hyper-echogenic pattern. The diverticulum wall and esophageal wall were seen to be continuous if multiple sections were scanned, and hypoechoic walls showed punctate blood flow. 29/68 diagnosed with air-containing nodular diverticulum, lesions appeared with gas-like hyper-echogenicity internally, with some amount of gas and change in the tail pattern during swallowing. 6/68 patients were diagnosed with liquid-containing nodular diverticulum, and the main ultrasonic manifestations were an anechoic internal diverticulum cavity that was clearly bounded from the thyroid but continuous with the esophageal wall, with a typical hyper-hypo-echoless pattern from the outside to the inside. Another 3/68 were found to have atypical diverticular changes, regional convexities of the esophageal wall with unfashioned nodules. The convex segment was continuous with the hyper-hypo-echogenic esophageal wall and could be seen on slitting scanning.

Overall, PEDs mimicking thyroid nodules have specific ultrasonographic features. Familiarity with them can avoid missed diagnoses and misdiagnoses.