Original Article

Role of salivary function in patients with globus pharyngeus

  1. Chung-Hwan Baek MD, PhD1,
  2. Man Ki Chung MD1,
  3. Joon Young Choi MD, PhD2,
  4. Yoon Kyoung So MD1,
  5. Young-Ik Son MD, PhD1,
  6. Han-Sin Jeong MD, PhD1,*

Article first published online: 1 JUL 2009

DOI: 10.1002/hed.21176

Issue

Head & Neck

Head & Neck

Volume 32, Issue 2, pages 244–252, February 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Baek, C.-H., Chung, M. K., Choi, J. Y., So, Y. K., Son, Y.-I. and Jeong, H.-S. (2010), Role of salivary function in patients with globus pharyngeus. Head & Neck, 32: 244–252. doi: 10.1002/hed.21176

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 135-710, Korea

  2. 2

    Department of Nuclear Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 135-710, Korea

*Department of Otorhinolarngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 135-710, Korea

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 6 JAN 2010
  2. Article first published online: 1 JUL 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 20 APR 2009

Funded by

  • Korea Research Foundation (Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, MOEHRD, Korean Government). Grant Number: KRF-2008-331-E00258

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Keywords:

  • globus pharyngeus;
  • xerostomia;
  • salivary hypofunction;
  • prevalence;
  • extra-esophageal reflux

Abstract

Background.

Our aim was to investigate the prevalence and the clinical role of salivary hypofunction in patients with globus sensation.

Methods.

We conducted a prospective observational study in 340 patients with globus pharyngeus. A standard questionnaire and 99mTc-pertechnate salivary scintigraphy were used to evaluate salivary hypofunction, with a full examination from the nasal cavity to the larynx (N = 303). We also investigated the effect of xerostomia management on globus symptoms (N = 252).

Results.

The symptom scores for xerostomia were higher in patients with severe globus (p < .05). Objective salivary hypofunction was noted in 57.4% of the patients, based on the reference values from control groups. Globus symptoms were more severe in the subgroup with salivary hypofunction (p = .0447). Conservative management of xerostomia significantly reduced the severity of globus at 1 and 3 months (p = .0002) regardless of salivary function.

Conclusions.

Salivary hypofunction seems to be an aggravating factor in globus pharyngeus, but not a direct cause. Conservative management of xerostomia improves globus symptoms. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010

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