Role of salivary function in patients with globus pharyngeus.
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 (99m)Tc-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.
Baek
Chung-Hwan
CH
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 135-710, Korea.
Chung
Man Ki
MK
Choi
Joon Young
JY
So
Yoon Kyoung
YK
Son
Young-Ik
YI
Jeong
Han-Sin
HS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m