• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.193-196
• /
• 1998

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) has been considered one of major causes in patient with globus symptom. Diagnostic methods for GER are gastroesophagoscopy, acid perfusion test esophagogram, esophageal manometry, 24-hour double probe pH-metry, and so on. According to the literature, positive rate of GER on esophagogram was reported variably from 4.7% to 45.9% and the outcome of classical treatment with antacid and prokinetic agent was reported from 70% to 84%. We reviewed the medical records of 81 patients with globus symptom. Each patient had been performed esophagogram and treated with antacid and prokinetic agent. Positive rate of GER on esophagogram was 46.9%. Complete resolution and improvement of globus symptom was 79% overally, 92% in positive group of GER rut esophgogram, and 72% in negative group. Considering aspects of time-cost and compliance of patient esophagogram is one of the screening methods of GER in patients with globus symptom. Antacid and prokinetic agent is recommended in treatment of patients with globus symptom.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.84-86
• /
• 2016

Globus pharyngeus or globus sensation is the painless sensation of a lump in the throat and may be described as a foreign body sensation, a tightening or choking feeling. It is often associated with persistent clearing of the throat, chronic cough, hoarseness, and catarrh. Its etiology remains unclear ; however, laryngopharyngeal reflux may play a role in a subset of patients. Psychogenic problems have often been thought to cause or trigger the globus sensation. Personality studies have found higher levels of alexithymia, neuroticism, and psychological distress (including anxiety, low mood, and somatic concerns) and lower levels of extraversion in patients presenting with globus. Globus patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux exhibited weaker psychological symptoms than non- laryngopharyngeal reflux globus patients, and globus patients who did not respond to proton pump inhibitor had significantly higher anxiety scores. In cases with negative clinical investigations and consistent globus symptom, other treatment strategies, including speech therapy, antidepressants, and cognitive-behavioral therapy, should be considered.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.42 no.6
• /
• pp.1245-1254
• /
• 2021

Objectives: This study investigated the clinical characteristics and symptoms of patients with reflux esophagitis (RE) visiting a Korean medicine hospital. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with an RE diagnosis who visited a Korean medicine hospital from June 15, 2020, to April 15, 2021. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and the results of a symptoms questionnaire. Results: Our sample included 1,151 patients (711 females). The median age was 58 years; the most common age bracket was 60-69 years. A total of 837 patients (72.7%) presented with symptoms lasting more than one year, and 1,035 (89.9%) had been prescribed medications for more than three months before visiting a Korean medicine hospital. Belching (77.6%) and acid regurgitation (70.9%) were the most frequent symptoms, followed by epigastric pain (61.6%) and throat globus (58.5%). Throat globus was the most bothersome symptom, and 72.4% of the patients experienced the symptom on more than five days in the preceding two weeks. Patients with a longer symptom duration were older (p<0.01) and more likely to be overweight (p=0.03). Patients experiencing symptoms for more than five years were more likely to report throat globus (p=0.02), hoarseness (p<0.01), and coughing (p<0.01). Conclusions: Most RE patients visiting a Korean medicine hospital were females in their sixties with chronic and refractory RE. Atypical symptoms (belching, epigastric pain, and throat globus) were common. Throat globus was highly prevalent in severe cases, suggesting that it warrants attention when treating RE patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.127-129
• /
• 2015

Background and Objectives : The etiology of globus pharyngeus remains uncertain. It has been known there is a relationship between the presence of air bubbles in esophagus and GERD symptoms. The aim of this study is to identify relationship between the globus symptom and the presence of air column in esophagus. Subjects and Methods : The study population consisted of 46 patients who underwent CT scan as part of evaluation for globus. Controls were chosen from the population consisted of patients with lymphadenopathy who underwent CT scan. The correlation between the presence of globus symptom and diameter, volume, and position of the air column was assessed using t-test. Reproducibility of diameter and volume of the esophageal air column was analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficient. Results : In study group, the mean volume of the air column was $769.56{\pm}983.08mm^3$, the mean diameter was $8.24{\pm}4.90mm$, the mean distance from the inferior border of posterior lamina of cricoid cartilage was $88.86{\pm}28.01mm$. In control group, $682.18{\pm}767.28mm^3$, $8.37{\pm}5.50mm$, $88.34{\pm}21.06mm$, respectively. There were no differences of diameter, volume and distance of the air column between the two groups. We failed to obtain acceptable reliability when we compare the diameter and the volume of the esophageal air column. Conclusion : There was no relationship between air column of esophagus and presence of globus symptom. And the measurement of diameter and volume of the esophageal air column change over time and it should be considered in a further study.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.287-294
• /
• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) according to globus sensation (GS). Methods: We reviewed the clinical records of 29 GERD patients who visited the Department of Digestive Diseases of Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital from March 1, 2018 to February 28, 2019. The subjects were classified according to the presence of globus sensation, and the two groups were compared in terms of heart rate variability (HRV) and the Ryodoraku results. Results: In comparing the GERD with GS group (GS group) and the GERD without GS group (non-GS group), a significant difference was found in the duration of symptom and several HRV parameters. The duration of the symptom in the GS group was significantly longer than that in the non-GS group. The non-GS group showed a significantly higher value of total power and high frequency than the GS group. Conclusions: The results suggest a significant difference in the stress level between patients with GERD with GS and those without GS. When approaching patients with GERD without GS, their stress status should be considered.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.232-237
• /
• 1996

Burning and lump sensation in the throat is a common disorder in middle aged woman. It is generally considered to be a neurotic origin but its pathophysiology is still remained unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of the Pharyngoesophageal structural lesions and the esophageal motility disorders among the patients with globus pharyngeus and to elucidate whether any specific manometric abnormality might have any causative role in the pathogenesis of the globus sensation, and we also wanted to know whether such tests were necessary in evaluating those patients. Structural lesions were demonstrated in 21 cases(17.5 %) among 120 patients. But among 44 controls, there were also Two cases(4.5 %) of structural lesions, and there was less significantly difference in the prevalence of the structural lesions between the patients and controls(p=0.0625) Manometric abnormalities over the lower esophageal sphincter and the lower esophageal body were demonstrated in 28 cases (23.3 %) of the patients, while only one case (2.3 %) of the controls revealed such abnormality ( p=0.0037). Various manometric parameters of the upper esophageal sphincter and pharynx showed no difference between the patients and controls except the upper esophageal sphincter pressure at lateral sides which was lower in patients than in controls (p=0.0034). Globus sensation is a kind of symptom of esophageal dysmotility, and esophageal manometry is necessary to detect such abnormality in patients with globus sensation, Careful physical examination is also necessary to detect structural lesions in the pharynx and esophagus.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.20-25
• /
• 2022

Background and Objectives Globus pharyngeus is one of the most common symptoms of patients visiting otorhinolaryngology out-patient clinic, and usually long-lasting, difficult to treat, and frequently recurrent. Mucomyst^®, N-acetyl cysteine is an inhalation agent mainly used for mucolysis and reducing inflammation in airway via antioxidative effect. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of inhaled Mucomyst^® treatment in patients with globus pharyngeus refractory to proton pump inhibitor (PPI). Materials and Method We prospectively evaluated the efficacy of Mucomyst^® in relieving symptoms of globus pharyngeus refractory to PPI in nine medical centers. Three hundred and three patients enrolled and finally 229 patients finished the inhaled Mucomyst^® therapy for 8 weeks. We analyzed the change of Reflux Symptom Index (RSI), Reflux Finding Score (RFS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for globus, and Globus Pharyngeus Symptom Scale (GPS) after use of Mucomyst^® for 4 and 8 weeks. Results The GPS, RSI, RFS, and VAS score significantly decreased serially in patients who finished 8 week-inhalation treatment. The GPS improvement gap was significantly correlated with initial GPS (p<0.001) in multiple regression analysis. Conclusion Inhaled Mucomyst^® therapy was effective for the reduction of both subjective and objective findings in refractory globus patients. This study might suggest new treatment option for patients with globus. However, further thorough studies would be needed to assess the real effect of inhaled Mucomyst^® treatment as a standard treatment for globus.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.67-74
• /
• 2003

Larygopharyngeal reflux(LPR) is one form of the Gastroesophageal Reflux Diseases(GERD). It is known to cause various kinds of otolaryngologic symptoms such as hoarseness, globus sensation in throat, chronic throat clearing, and chronic cough, Disease entities diagnosed by otolaryngologists as posterior laryngitis, globus pharyngeus and reflux laryngitis should be suspected as LPR-related diseases. The nizatidine(AXID), as a Histamine H2-receptor antagonist, reduces gastric acid secretion and improves gastric motility function. Objectives : The effect of nizatidine using 150mg b.i.d was evaluated for symptom relief and improvement of laryngoscopic findings in patients with LPR. Materials and Methods : In 30 multicenter, observational trial performed nationalwidely in Korea. 308 patients with LPR symptom were observed to evaluate their symptoms and larygnoscopic findings after 4weeks, 8weeks, 12weeks of treatment with nizatidine. Results : The symptoms of LPR including globus sensation, chronic throat clearing and hoarseness, are reduced significantly after 4 weeks, 8weeks, and 12weeks of treatment(p<0.05). The laryngoscopic findings including diffuse erythema, edema and granulation are improved after nizatidine treatment(p<0.05). and the efficacy of nizatidine on LPR-related sympoms after 4 weeks is 88.6%, and those of after 8 weeks and 12weeks were 92.6%, and 99.1% in ITT(Intent To Treatment) group(p<0.05). And PPA(Per Protocol Analysis)group showed 93.7%, 97.3%, and 99.1% of efficacy after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of nizatidine treatment(p<0.05). Conclusion : These results indicate that in patient with LPR, nizatidine 150mg b.i.d treatment very effectively reduces LPR symptoms and improves laryngoscopic findings as well as reduces gastric acid secretion and improves gastric motility function.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.41-49
• /
• 2009

Background and Objectives : Proton pump inhibitors(PPIs) improve the symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux(LPR). But there is little reports about the changes of each items in reflux symptom index (RSI) and reflux finding score (RFS) after PPIstreatment. The purpose of this study is to analyze the changes of pre- and post-treatment score in each RSI and RFS items after 8 weeks medication with proton pump inhibitors in laryngopharyngeal reflux patients. Methods : Prospective study. Among the patients who had visited the department of otolaryngology from January 2007 to December 2008, 91 patients who had shown scores greater than 13 on the RSI and/or 7 on the RFS were studied. All patients received PPIs once daily before breakfast for 8 weeks. RSI and RFS were assessed at initial, four weeks and eight weeks after medication. Result: All RSI items were improved (p < 0.05). The globus sense followed by throat clearing, heartburns and hoarseness showed high initial RSI score than other items. And globus sense, throat clearing, hoarseness and heartburn were improved significantly more than others items. But only posterior commissure hypertrophy of RFS was improved significantly more than others items. Conclusion: Empiric PPIs therapy reduced the RSI scores and more effective for symptoms such as globus sense, throat clearing, hoarseness and heartburn among suspected LPR patients. In RFS, only posterior commissure hypertrophy has improved significantly. However, the changes of each categories of RFS were minimal (average: 0.16), therefore clinical significance is restricted in RFS.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.22-27
• /
• 2004

Background : LPRD(Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease) gives rise to inflammatory change in the pharyngolaryngeal tissue with various otolaryngologic symptoms. Ranitidine, histamine H2receptor antagonists, are currently used as therapeutic medications. However, the efficacy of Ranitidine on LPRD has not been proven yet. Objectives : We intended to analyze the efficacy of the Ranitidine on LPRD. Materials :md Methods : In 20 multicenter, 607 patients with LPR(laryngopharyngeal reflux) symptom were observed to evaluate their symptoms and laryngoscopic findings after 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks of treatment of Ranitidine. Results : The symptom of LPR including globus sensation, sore throat hoarseness, regurgitatioin are improved after 4 weeks $86.2\%,\;8 weeks\;91.5\%,\;12 weeks\;92.9\%$ of Ranitidine treatment and improved after 4 weeks $91.5\%,\;8 weeks\;94.5\%,\;12 weeks\; 97.2\%$ of Ranitidine combined with prokinetics. The rates of sore throat, chronic cough, globus sensation improvement at 8 weeks after treatment are $26.7\%,\;16.7\%,\;16\%$. Conclusion : In patient with LPR, Ranitidine treatment reduces LPR symptoms very effectively.