Globus sensation as early presentation of hypopharyngeal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To identify if patients with early hypopharyngeal carcinoma can present with only the single complaint of globus sensation.


METHODS
Retrospective case review.


METHODS
Teaching Hospital in Scotland.


METHODS
Cohort of 23 patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma. Retrospective review of their case notes with regards to their hospital pathway from initial referral from the General Practitioner to diagnosis.


METHODS
Symptoms & signs on presentation, subsequent investigations and time interval between initial presentation and diagnosis.


RESULTS
We identified two patients (9%) who presented early with globus or other soft symptoms as the only complaint and with normal clinical findings. There was a 78%'pick up' rate of abnormalities in the barium swallow examination.


CONCLUSIONS
We believe this can have important clinical implications in the screening & investigation of globus patients who represent a significant outpatient workload. We review the relevant literature.
Tsikoudas
A
A
Department of Otolarygology, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee, UK. atsikoudas@yahoo.co.uk
Ghuman
N
N
Riad
M A
MA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D001466:Barium Sulfate