Squamous cell carcinoma arising in an epiphrenic diverticulum: Report of the 22nd case resected by robotic minimally-invasive thoracic surgery and review of the literature

An epiphrenic diverticulum is rare. Cancer is seen in 0.3-3% of patients with epiphrenic diverticula. However, the prognosis of patients with squamous cell cancer in an esophageal diverticulum is significantly worse than squamous cell carcinoma in other parts of the esophagus. We present the 22nd case with squamous cell carcinoma within an epiphrenic diverticulum and review the other twenty one cases in the literature. Based on the review of literature we conclude that increased awareness, proper and thorough preoperative workup, and appropriate oncologic operative intervention can improve the poor prognosis associated with squamous cell cancer arising in an esophageal diverticulum.