Radiology, Vol 191, 95-97, Copyright © 1994 by Radiological Society of North America
Globus pharyngeus: radiographic evaluation and 24-hour pH monitoring of the pharynx and esophagus in 22 patients
DJ Ott, MS Ledbetter, JA Koufman and MY Chen
Department of Radiology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157.
PURPOSE: The authors correlated the radiographic evaluation and 24-hour pH
monitoring of the pharynx and the esophagus in patients with globus
pharyngeus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radiographic examination of the pharynx
of 22 patients (13 women and nine men, aged 23-73 years [mean, 47 years])
included videofluoroscopy and static radiography. Twenty- four-hour
double-probe pH monitoring of the pharynx (abnormal, pH < 4) and
esophagus (abnormal, 6% or more total acid exposure) was performed in all
patients. RESULTS: Radiographic results were normal in 17 patients; results
were abnormal in five, with four having pharyngeal dysfunction and one
showing a persistent cricopharyngeal impression. Zenker diverticulum was
not seen. Results at pH monitoring of the pharynx and esophagus were normal
in 20 and 18 of the 22 patients, respectively. In four of five patients
with abnormal radiographic studies of the pharynx, results of pharyngeal pH
monitoring were normal. CONCLUSION: Most patients with globus pharyngeus
had normal results at pH monitoring and radiographic examination of the
pharynx.
