Globus sensation

Abstract

Globus sensation is a medially felt lump in the throat. It can be associated with a number of different diseases, but this symptom may also occur monosymptomatically as a somatoform disorder or as a secondary somatoform illness behavior. Globus sensation may be persistent or intermittent. Diagnosis requires close interdisciplinary cooperation, since the globus may be a symptom of anxiety, depression or personality disorders. Firstly, patients should undergo a thorough otolaryngological examination (including careful medical history taking), possibly in cooperation with other medical specialists. Subsequent psychosomatic and clinical tests - if necessary - may be time-consuming due to complex interrelations between somatic vulnerability and psychosocial coping strategies. Sometimes a comorbid disorder is diagnosed and the primary disease treated; however, the identification of multiple etiologically effective mechanisms is impossible. If the patient is unable to accept his benign monosymptomatic globus as a somatoform disorder (ICD-10; F45.8), a combination of pharmacologic intervention and cognitive-behavioral intervention as an integrated treatment approach is recommended. However, the symptom has a strong tendency to recur. Since controlled therapy studies are scant to date, evidence-based treatment concepts are currently not available.

Argon Plasma Coagulation of Gastric Inlet Patches for the Treatment of Globus Sensation: It Is an Effective Therapy in the Long Term

“…In this selected group of patients we surveyed a safe procedure which is generally disposable; many other therapy options like relaxation techniques, psychosomatic treatment and even antidepressants were applied in order to treat globus sensation symptoms, but all of these approaches are not recommended generally due to sparse and inconsistent data [25,26]. In contrast, after more than 2 years of follow-up, 74% of our patients are still satisfied with the clinical result and perceive a significant reduction of symptoms.…”