Publication:

An embryological outpouching of esophagus in the right thoracic cavity: a rare cadaveric case report

The esophagus (EG) is a muscular tube, that connects the pharynx to the stomach. Stomach is the widest part of the alimentary tract and is located between EG and duodenum. Gatro-intestinal tract duplications are spherical or tubular prolongations extending from the oral cavity to the anal aperture. During the anatomical dissection for the medical students in a 70 years old male cadaver, a rare variation of esophageal dilatation (ED) was found in the posterior mediastinum. On removal of the anterior thoracic wall, EG showed an abnormal outpouching at the level of T2. ED passes distally through the oesophageal opening of the diaphragm and continues as the cardiac end of the stomach into the abdominal cavity. This is directly supplied by the branches of the descending thoracic aorta. Stomach appears to be normal and there were no associated anomalies in the rest of the regions. Abdominal duplications may remains asymptomatic and gets identified incidentally during routine investigations. Gastroenterologist, radiologists and thoracic surgeons should have a profound knowledge on these developmental variations.