It often sends the sufferer into a panic thinking it might be throat cancer. And the fact is, there are many possible causes. But in most "lump in throat" cases, medical doctors can't find any obvious medical reason, and simply dismiss it as globus pharyngis (ie. globus sensation). In such cases (ie. where no obvious cause like a tumour can be found), even though doctors may say "it's harmless and just all in your mind", the ongoing psychological trauma is very real, and in some cases patients have eventually found underlying causes which the doctors earlier missed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globus_pharyngis
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The following medical research paper gave further evidence that globus pharyngis is definitely not just 'all in your mind', despite what your/many doctors may tell you. It's just that many different underlying medical conditions give rise to this globus sensation, and many of these underlying conditions are extremely difficult to diagnose.
A series of studies indicated that organic factors underlay the symptom : a collapse in the vertical dimension of the masticating apparatus, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, carcinoma on the base of the tongue, hyperplastic lingual and pharyngeal tonsils, cervical lymph nodes, postcricoidal webs, goiter, thyroid tumors, cervical osteophytes or arthrosis, and an increased tension of the pharyngeal muscles. Paraesophageal masses,18 carcinoma, gastroduodenal lesions, and hiatal hernias also have been thought to underlie the sensation. In the past decades, a disordered contractile activity of the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) esophageal body, or the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and gastroesophageal reflux (GER) were suggested to elicit the globus sensation. Conclusion : Pharyngoesophageal disorders may be sensed only vaguely, inducing the globus sensation. Psychological and psychiatric characteristics could be relevant to the discomfort experienced but are unlikely to be etiologically significant.
Globus Sensation: Pharyngoesophageal Function, Psychometric and Psychiatric Findings, and Follow-up in 88 Patients
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/207431
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ENT specialist Dr Christopher Chang says of his experience with patients, that "laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR)" is the most common cause of "phlegmy throat" which in turn is the most common cause of "globus pharyngis". This article includes a video on this condition, and possible treatments.
https://www.fauquierent.net/phlegmymucusthroat.htm
https://www.fauquierent.net/lpr.htm
Also see "related ENT websites" on LPR causing globus pharyngis at the end of this post.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The following are other relevant articles on this medical condition :
What is globus pharyngis?
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318633.php
Globus sensation: Causes of a lump in the throat
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320245.php
“Doctor, I have a lump in my throat!”
https://scrubbing.in/lump-in-my-throat/
Globus Sensation
https://patient.info/digestive-health/difficulty-swallowing-dysphagia/globus-sensation
Globus pharyngis: A review of its etiology, diagnosis and treatment
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3360444/
Globus pharyngis: an update for general practice
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4582871/
Forum post : "Lump in throat with discomfort"
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-chat/thread/lump-in-throat-with-discomfort-0
Forum post : "Is this throat cancer? Please help, I am terrified!"
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/ab...this-throat-cancer-please-help-i-am-terrified
---------------------------------------------------------------------
An excellent informative article by Paul Ingraham (the man behind painscience.com), details his personal suffering with globus pharyngis over many years, including his personal exploration of possible treatments (some worked better than others).
A Lump in My Throat : A globus hystericus story, with a side of science
https://www.painscience.com/articles/lump-in-the-throat.php
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Final note : if your globus pharyngis persists, hopefully you can find well-informed ENT specialists such as Dr Christopher Chang (mentioned above). Again, here are his links (including possible treatments).
https://www.fauquierent.net/phlegmymucusthroat.htm
https://www.fauquierent.net/lpr.htm
Related ENT websites on laryngopharyngeal reflux causing globus pharyngis :
Sensation of a lump in the throat
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15024-laryngopharyngeal-reflux-lpr
Something “stuck” or a “lump” in the back of the throat
https://www.enthealth.org/conditions/gerd-and-lpr/
A "lump" in the throat that doesn't go away with repeated swallowing
https://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/guide/laryngopharyngeal-reflux-silent-reflux#1
Feeling like something is stuck in the throat
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/314531.php
One of the most characteristic symptoms of the laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) is globus pharyngeus
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3807765/
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Gaviscon Advance helps in laryngopharyngeal reflux causing globus pharynges :
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18506466
https://www.refluxgate.com/gaviscon-advance
https://www.pharmacy.nhg.com.sg/mobile/productCatalogue/productDetails.aspx?productId=4049
https://www.qoo10.sg/item/GAVISCON-ADVANCE-EXTRA-STRENGTH-FORMULA-RELIEVES-INDIGESTION/640396246
Dr Christopher Chang :
https://blog.fauquierent.net/2010/10/gaviscon-advance-for-non-acid.html
From wipeoutreflux.com :
https://www.wipeoutreflux.com/lpr-symptoms/
https://www.wipeoutreflux.com/the-complete-guide-to-lpr/
https://www.wipeoutreflux.com/gaviscon-advance/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globus_pharyngis
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The following medical research paper gave further evidence that globus pharyngis is definitely not just 'all in your mind', despite what your/many doctors may tell you. It's just that many different underlying medical conditions give rise to this globus sensation, and many of these underlying conditions are extremely difficult to diagnose.
A series of studies indicated that organic factors underlay the symptom : a collapse in the vertical dimension of the masticating apparatus, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, carcinoma on the base of the tongue, hyperplastic lingual and pharyngeal tonsils, cervical lymph nodes, postcricoidal webs, goiter, thyroid tumors, cervical osteophytes or arthrosis, and an increased tension of the pharyngeal muscles. Paraesophageal masses,18 carcinoma, gastroduodenal lesions, and hiatal hernias also have been thought to underlie the sensation. In the past decades, a disordered contractile activity of the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) esophageal body, or the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and gastroesophageal reflux (GER) were suggested to elicit the globus sensation. Conclusion : Pharyngoesophageal disorders may be sensed only vaguely, inducing the globus sensation. Psychological and psychiatric characteristics could be relevant to the discomfort experienced but are unlikely to be etiologically significant.
Globus Sensation: Pharyngoesophageal Function, Psychometric and Psychiatric Findings, and Follow-up in 88 Patients
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/207431
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ENT specialist Dr Christopher Chang says of his experience with patients, that "laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR)" is the most common cause of "phlegmy throat" which in turn is the most common cause of "globus pharyngis". This article includes a video on this condition, and possible treatments.
https://www.fauquierent.net/phlegmymucusthroat.htm
https://www.fauquierent.net/lpr.htm
Also see "related ENT websites" on LPR causing globus pharyngis at the end of this post.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The following are other relevant articles on this medical condition :
What is globus pharyngis?
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318633.php
Globus sensation: Causes of a lump in the throat
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320245.php
“Doctor, I have a lump in my throat!”
https://scrubbing.in/lump-in-my-throat/
Globus Sensation
https://patient.info/digestive-health/difficulty-swallowing-dysphagia/globus-sensation
Globus pharyngis: A review of its etiology, diagnosis and treatment
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3360444/
Globus pharyngis: an update for general practice
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4582871/
Forum post : "Lump in throat with discomfort"
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-chat/thread/lump-in-throat-with-discomfort-0
Forum post : "Is this throat cancer? Please help, I am terrified!"
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/ab...this-throat-cancer-please-help-i-am-terrified
---------------------------------------------------------------------
An excellent informative article by Paul Ingraham (the man behind painscience.com), details his personal suffering with globus pharyngis over many years, including his personal exploration of possible treatments (some worked better than others).
A Lump in My Throat : A globus hystericus story, with a side of science
https://www.painscience.com/articles/lump-in-the-throat.php
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Final note : if your globus pharyngis persists, hopefully you can find well-informed ENT specialists such as Dr Christopher Chang (mentioned above). Again, here are his links (including possible treatments).
https://www.fauquierent.net/phlegmymucusthroat.htm
https://www.fauquierent.net/lpr.htm
Related ENT websites on laryngopharyngeal reflux causing globus pharyngis :
Sensation of a lump in the throat
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15024-laryngopharyngeal-reflux-lpr
Something “stuck” or a “lump” in the back of the throat
https://www.enthealth.org/conditions/gerd-and-lpr/
A "lump" in the throat that doesn't go away with repeated swallowing
https://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/guide/laryngopharyngeal-reflux-silent-reflux#1
Feeling like something is stuck in the throat
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/314531.php
One of the most characteristic symptoms of the laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) is globus pharyngeus
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3807765/
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Gaviscon Advance helps in laryngopharyngeal reflux causing globus pharynges :
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18506466
https://www.refluxgate.com/gaviscon-advance
https://www.pharmacy.nhg.com.sg/mobile/productCatalogue/productDetails.aspx?productId=4049
https://www.qoo10.sg/item/GAVISCON-ADVANCE-EXTRA-STRENGTH-FORMULA-RELIEVES-INDIGESTION/640396246
Dr Christopher Chang :
https://blog.fauquierent.net/2010/10/gaviscon-advance-for-non-acid.html
From wipeoutreflux.com :
https://www.wipeoutreflux.com/lpr-symptoms/
https://www.wipeoutreflux.com/the-complete-guide-to-lpr/
https://www.wipeoutreflux.com/gaviscon-advance/
Last edited: