Changes

An oesophageal diverticulum is a circumscribed sacculation of the wall of the oesophagus. The diverticulum may be '''congenital''' or '''acquired''' and congenital diverticula usually occur due to a defect in the muscle layers of the oesophagus through which the mucosa can herniate.  Acquired diverticula can be divided into:

An oesophageal diverticulum is a circumscribed sacculation of the wall of the oesophagus. The diverticulum may be '''congenital''' or '''acquired''' and congenital diverticula usually occur due to a defect in the muscle layers of the oesophagus through which the mucosa can herniate.  Acquired diverticula can be divided into:

*'''Traction diverticula''' involve all of the layers of the oesophageal wall and occur when '''peri-oesophageal inflammation and fibrosis''' result in the formation of adhesions between the oesopagus and surrounding tissues, distorting the normal contours of the oesophageal wall.  They develop most commonly in the cranial and middle portions of the oesophagus.  

*'''Traction diverticula''' involve all of the layers of the oesophageal wall and occur when '''peri-oesophageal inflammation and fibrosis''' result in the formation of adhesions between the oesopagus and surrounding tissues, distorting the normal contours of the oesophageal wall.  They develop most commonly in the cranial and middle portions of the oesophagus.  

*'''Pulsion diverticula''' are similar to congenital divericula in that the mucosa herniates through an acquired defect in the outer layers of the wall.  They  may be caused by any condition that places internal radial stress on the oesophageal wall, such as increases in intraluminal oesophageal pressure.  '''[[Oesophageal Foreign Body|Foreign bodies]]''', '''[[Vascular Ring Anomaly|vascular ring anomalies]]''', '''[[Oesophageal Stricture|strictures]]''' and severe '''[[Oesophagitis|oesophagitis]]''' can all therefore lead to the development of pulsion diverticula.   

*'''Pulsion diverticula''' are similar to congenital divericula in that the mucosa herniates through an acquired defect in the outer layers of the wall.  They  may be caused by any condition that places internal radial stress on the oesophageal wall, such as increases in intraluminal oesophageal pressure.  '''[[Oesophageal Foreign Body|Foreign bodies]]''', '''[[Vascular Ring Anomalies|vascular ring anomalies]]''', '''[[Oesophageal Stricture|strictures]]''' and severe '''[[Oesophagitis|oesophagitis]]''' can all therefore lead to the development of pulsion diverticula.   

==Signalment==

==Signalment==

*'''Post-prandial dyspnoea''' if the sacculation impinges on the lung fields.

*'''Post-prandial dyspnoea''' if the sacculation impinges on the lung fields.

*'''Aspiraton pneumonia''' with tachypnoea, dyspnoea, pyrexia and coughing may occur with any cause of chronic regurgitation.

*'''Aspiraton pneumonia''' with tachypnoea, dyspnoea, pyrexia and coughing may occur with any cause of chronic regurgitation.

*Signs that occur if the oesophagus ruptures are described [[Rupture of the Oesopahgus|here]].

*Signs that occur if the oesophagus ruptures are described [[Rupture of the Oesophagus|here]].

===Diagnostic Imaging===

===Diagnostic Imaging===