title: Work-up of globus: assessing the benefits of neck ultrasound and videofluorography.
abstract: Globus patients with normal ear, nose, and throat (ENT) status are a diagnostic challenge. The symptom may be long lasting and cause concern about malignancy, leading to possibly unnecessary further investigation. The aim of the study was to assess whether radiological examinations are useful in globus diagnostics, how often patients suffer from persistent globus, and whether globus patients with normal ENT status develop a malignancy during a follow-up. We reviewed medical records of all 76 globus patients referred to Helsinki University Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in 2009. Patient history and findings in physical and radiological examinations were registered. A questionnaire concerning patients' present pharyngeal symptoms was sent 3 and 6 years after their initial visit. Data from the Finnish Cancer Registry revealed whether patients developed malignancies within a 3-year follow-up. Based on medical records, neck ultrasound was performed for 37 (49 %) and videofluorography for 22 patients (29 %), with nonsignificant findings. After a 3- and 6-year follow-up, half patients indicated that they were asymptomatic or had fewer symptoms, whereas the rest had persistent symptoms. The Finnish Cancer Registry data confirmed that globus patients developed no head and neck malignancies during a 3-year follow-up. In the present study, neck ultrasound and videofluorography showed no additional benefit to evaluate the globus etiology in patients whose ENT status was normal. Half the globus patients suffered from persistent symptoms after a 3- and 6-year follow-up, indicating that globus may cause discomfort chronically. However, no patients developed malignancies during a 3-year follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, P.O. Box 263, FI-00029 HUS, Helsinki, Finland. pia.jarvenpaa@fimnet.fi.
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Järvenpää
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, P.O. Box 263, FI-00029 HUS, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Taru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ilmarinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, P.O. Box 263, FI-00029 HUS, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geneid
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, P.O. Box 263, FI-00029 HUS, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pietarinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, P.O. Box 263, FI-00029 HUS, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Teemu J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kinnari
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, P.O. Box 263, FI-00029 HUS, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Heikki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rihkanen
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, P.O. Box 263, FI-00029 HUS, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruohoalho
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, P.O. Box 263, FI-00029 HUS, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Markkanen-Leppänen
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, P.O. Box 263, FI-00029 HUS, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Leif
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bäck
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Perttu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arkkila
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, P.O. Box 263, FI-00029 HUS, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Leena-Maija
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Aaltonen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003291:Conversion Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010036:Otolaryngology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010808:Physical Examination; D011859:Radiography; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014741:Video Recording; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Follow-up; Globus; Globus diagnostics; Malignancy