Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction and Esophageal Diverticulum

A prospective, multi-institutional study comparing the effectiveness of the above procedures
will provide a large cohort using standardized diagnostic studies, diverticulum size
measurements, treatment approaches, pre-operative and post-operative assessment of symptoms
in order to both compare the effectiveness of the procedures and to stratify the patients in
order to determine whether demographics such as age, pre-operative size, and/or
peri-operative co-morbidities influence outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Patients with a diagnosis of cervical esophageal diverticulum, with Zenker's as most
common, or CP bar (with diagnosis of early Zenker) as indicated on an esophagram who
the participating institutions enroll regardless of surgical management and future
treatments. Patients undergoing open transcervical or endoscopic approach in which a
laser or stapler is used to divide the common wall between the diverticulum and
esophagus, or who are not surgical candidates but agree to follow-up.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Patients who undergo division of the common wall between the diverticulum and
esophagus using flexible endoscopy will not be included in the study.