Incidence and Clinical Significance of Thyroid Lesions in Patients with Globus Pharyngeus

Kwon, Kee Whan; Lee, Sang Hyuk; Kim, Nam Hoon; Lee, Jung Woo; Lee, Kyung Chul; Jin, Sung Min; Lee, Yong Bae

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Globus pharyngeus represents 3-4% of new otolaryngology outpatient referrals. The globus symptom in the throat may be an indication of thyroid abnormalities. The purpose of this study is to estimate the incidence of impalpable thyroid lesions in patients with globus pharyngeus and investigate possible association between globus pharyngeus and thyroid lesion. MATERIALS AND MEHTODS: The thyroid glands of 128 patients with globus pharyngeus and 50 controls were examined by ultrasound by a consultant radiologist using a 7 MHz probe.
RESULTS
Thyroid abnormalities were present in 69/128 (54%) patients with globus and in 11/50 (22%) controls (p<0.05). Of the thyroid lesions in globus pharyngeus, 42/69 (61%) had nodules. The diameter of the echoic nodules varied from 2 to 23 mm. Thyroid lesions were common (78%) in female patients with globus, between the ages of 30 and 40.
CONCLUSION
Impalpable thyroid abnormalities are significantly more common in patients with globus pharyngeus than in controls. Abnormalities of the thyroid gland may be the cause of globus symptoms in some patients, and it is necessary to evaluate the thyroid gland for investigation of the cause of globus pharyngeus.