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Updated: Jul 1, 2025

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Modeling Oral-Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in 3D Organoids
Published on: December 23, 2022
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Squamous Cell Carcinoma Arising in a Zenker's Diverticulum
Praveen Agarwal1, Nitish Jain1, Sourabh Jindal2
1Gastrointestinal Surgery, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi, IND.
Cureus
|March 7, 2024
Summary
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) within a Zenker's diverticulum (ZD) is rare. This case highlights successful surgical resection and adjuvant therapy for ZD SCC with lung metastasis, achieving a two-year tumor-free survival.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Oncology
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is an uncommon malignancy arising in Zenker's diverticulum (ZD).
- Early diagnosis and complete resection are crucial for managing ZD SCC.
- Histopathological examination of the diverticulum is essential to rule out malignancy.
Observation:
- A 62-year-old male presented with aspiration and dysphagia, diagnosed with a large ZD.
- Surgical resection of the ZD with cricopharyngeal myotomy revealed well-differentiated SCC.
- The SCC involved the full wall thickness of the ZD, nearing the serosa.
Findings:
- The patient developed a metastatic lung nodule, treated with VATS excision, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.
- Follow-up imaging confirmed a tumor-free status two years post-treatment.
- The co-occurrence of ZD SCC and synchronous/metachronous lung cancer represents an exceptionally rare clinical scenario.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of thorough histopathological evaluation of Zenker's diverticulum, even in the absence of typical risk factors.
- Aggressive surgical management combined with multimodal therapy can lead to favorable outcomes in advanced ZD SCC.
- Further research into the pathogenesis and optimal treatment strategies for rare malignancies like ZD SCC is warranted.
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