[Intramural pseudodiverticulosis of the esophagus]

Esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis is a rare benign condition with the cardinal symptom of dysphagia mostly due to inflammatory strictures. The disease frequently develops in connection with alcohol abuse and esophageal reflux, candidiasis or motility disorders. Characteristic is the radiological visualization of intramural saccular contrast accumulations. We report on five patients with esophageal pseudodiverticulosis endoscopically diagnosed at our hospital within a period of five years. Four of these patients underwent extensive investigations for additional esophageal conditions: Histological/cytological examinations, manometry, pH-metry and endoscopic ultrasonography. These four patients had a pathological reflux with marked esophagitis and inflammatory strictures. We achieved long-lasting therapeutic results with complete relief by bougienage and reflux therapy with additional candidiasis treatment in two and motility treatment in one patient each. The detailed discussion deals with the clinical aspects, characteristics, therapy and pathogenesis.