Towards positive diagnosis of globus hystericus

ABSTRACT

17 patients [11 females and 6 males] with the symptom of globus sensation were examined to assess a possible etiologic basis for their symptom. 13 asymptomatic healthy subjects [8 females and 5 males] matched for age and sex were also included as a control group. At the initial assessment, patients and controls underwent a detailed psychometric investigation. Patients were evaluated for other associated symptoms and, in particular, symptoms typifying esophageal motility disorders. They were subjected to thorough physical and otolaryngologic examinations and, thereafter, they underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, barium esophagogram, barium meal, radiograms of the cervical and upper thoracic spines and ultrasonography of the neck structures. Results showed that the symptom was attributed to advanced cervical spondylosis in 2 patients, duodenal ulcer in 2, otitis with mastoiditis in one, rheumatoid arthritis in one, esophageal motility disorders in 7 and it was of psychogenic origin for the remaining 4 patients