title: Role of salivary function in patients with globus pharyngeus.
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 (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.
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 135-710, Korea.
authors: Chung-Hwan
authors: CH
authors: Baek
authors: Man Ki
authors: MK
authors: Chung
authors: Joon Young
authors: JY
authors: Choi
authors: Yoon Kyoung
authors: YK
authors: So
authors: Young-Ik
authors: YI
authors: Son
authors: Han-Sin
authors: HS
authors: Jeong
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m