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Typical Signalment
Description
A circumscribed sacculation of the oesophageal wall. These can be divided into congenital or acquired. Congenital diverticula are due to a herniation of the mucosa through a muscularis defect. Acquired diverticula can be subdivided into:
- Traction forms result from peri-oesophageal inflammation and fibrosis and develop mainly in the cranial and mid-oesophageal body. Sacculations are created by adhesions to adjacent tissues.
- Pulsion forms result from:
- an increase in intraluminal oesophageal pressure
- abnormal local oesophageal motiltiy
- a stenosis interupting normal peristalsis
Diagnosis
Clinical Signs
usually result from food/fluid impaction in the sacculated area and can present as:
- regurgitation
- odynophagia
- retching
- postprandial dyspnoea
- anorexia
- sepsis if the diverticulum becomes perforated
- may be subclinical if small