Esophageal diverticulum in a young feline: anatomopathological characterization

Résumé

Esophageal diverticula are sac-like dilations in the esophageal wall, rare in felines, and classified as congenital or acquired. An 8-month-old male, mongrel cat presented with regurgitation, dysphagia, emesis, and reflux. Radiologic examination revealed a sacculation in the esophageal topography in the cranial portion of the cardiac silhouette. The patient underwent a gastrostomy to place a tube. Subsequently, he underwent esophageal endoscopic surgery, and diverticula of the thoracic esophagus and an underlying stenosis were identified. There was no resistance during the endoscopic passage between the esophagus and stomach, indicating a probable incompetence of the lower esophageal sphincter. The patient died post-surgery and was referred for necropsy. On macroscopic examination, the esophagus presented moderate dilatation in the medial portion, which, on cross-section, was formed by multiple diverticula. Caudal to the diverticula, an area of ​​esophageal stenosis was noted. Microscopically, the esophageal diverticula had mucosa, submucosa, muscular and adventitia, and necro suppurative esophagitis. Thus, the present study aims to report a case of esophageal diverticulum associated with esophageal stenosis in a young feline, characterizing its anatomopathological aspects.