The pathology of esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis

The gross and microscopic findings of an atuopsied case of esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis are presented. The source of the pseudodiverticula is shown to be pathologically dilated pre-existing excretory ducts of the submucosal glands, with which the pseudodiverticula often remained in continuity. Unlike what has been previously reported but poorly documented, the submucosal glands themselves did not contribute to the structure of the pseudodiverticula, the number of duct-gland units was not increased, and the thickening of the wall of the esophagus was the result of submucosal fibrosis, not hypertrophy of the muscularis propria. The etiology of this entity remains unidentified.