Pharyngeal pouches

A woman s failure to respond to antihypertensive medication was explained when she was observed to choke on drinking. Investigation revealed a large pharyngeal pouch that was full of tablets and capsules. Her blood pressure became easy to control when the pouch was removed. Birch D J, Dehn T C B 1993 British Medical Journal 306 1012. 

Peters, H., Neubuser, A., Kratochwil, K., Balling, R. 1998. Pax9-deficient mice lack pharyngeal pouch derivatives and teeth and exhibit craniofacial and limb abnormalities. Genes Dev. 12, 2735-2747. 

One of the commonest problems encountered in this area is a Zenker s diverticulum (posterior pharyngeal pouch) usually found in the middle aged and elderly group. It is sometimes full of retained debris. Unfortunately the opening of the diverticulum is wide and tightly compresses the normal oesophageal inlet. This combined with its posterior position explains why the tip of the endoscope is more likely to enter the diverticulum. As the diverticulum is only lined by mucus membrane it is easily perforated, and... 

Throat swabs, blood withdrawals, nasal washes and saliva samples are isolated on the indicated (X) days. Blood specimens (3 mL) are taken by venipuncture from the cephalic vein. Nasal washes are collected by instilling 1.5 mL of sterile phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) into the nostril and immediately aspirating wash fluid and secretions with a sterile S5uinge. Saliva specimens are collected by aspiration from the cheek pouch. Prior to throat swabbing, clinical scoring of tonsillitis and pharyngeal erythema severity is performed by a trained veterinarian who is blinded to the two animal groups. 

Kopinke, D., J. Sasine, J. Swift, W. Z. Stephens, and T. Piotrowski. 2006. Retinoic Acid Is Required for Endodermal Pouch Morphogenesis and Not for Pharyngeal Endoderm Specification. Dev Dynam 235, no 10 2695-709. 

---