The treatment of pharyngeal pouch

A case of carcinoma occurring in a pouch following a Dohlman's operation is reported. The management and complications of ninety-two patients with pharyngeal diverticula are discussed. The average length of hospitalization for patients undergoing diverticulectomy was sixteen days compared with eleven days for those treated by Dohlman's technique. The risk of carcinoma subsequently occurring in a retrained pouch should be considered and external diverticulectomy should be the treatment of choice whenever possible.