Massive bleeding from a Zenker's diverticulum: case report and review of the literature.

Zenker's diverticulum is an unusual site of origin for clinically significant upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Only three such cases have been previously documented. We report a case of massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding from a Zenker's diverticulum seen as hemoptysis and associated with chronic ingestion of one aspirin tablet every other day. Because of the propensity for ingested tablets to lodge in the diverticulum, caution is urged when prescribing ulcerogenic agents in pill form to a patient with a known Zenker's diverticulum.