Relationship between thyroid pathology and globus pharyngeus. Does thyroidectomy cause globus symptoms or improve it ? a preliminary study

Abstract EN

Objectives: The first aim of this study is to detect the frequency of globus symptoms in patients with thyroid pathologies who will be subjected for thyroidectomy.

The second aim is to know if thyroidectomy can cause or improve these symptoms. Patients and methods: Thirty patients with thyroid pathology who were scheduled for thyroidectomy were included in our study.

Glasgow-Edinburgh Throat Scale was filled for each patient preoperatively, and 3 months and 6 months postoperatively.

Computerized tomographic scanning of the neck and barium swallow were done for patients who have globus symptoms. Results: Seven patients had globus positive symptoms preoperatively.

The duration of symptoms varied between 3 months and 10 years (mean 30.5 months).

The commonest throat specific symptom were "feeling of something stuck in the throat" and "discomfort/ irritation in the throat" in 4 patients.

The remaining 3 patientsJ symptoms are "feeling of something stuck in the throat" and "pain in the throat".

Three months postoperatively, 5 patients improved completely from throat specific symptoms.

The remaining two patients improved six months postoperatively.

The 2 somatic stress symptoms improved after 6 month.

Four patients with positive symptoms were euthyroid and three were hyperthyroid patients.

None of the operated patients developed globus symptoms.

Barium swallow and CT findings (apart from details of the thyroid gland) were normal. Conclusion: Thyroid pathologies can cause globus symptoms.

However, any patient with goitre and is suffering from these symptoms must be thoroughly investigated to rule out any sinister pathology before considering goitre as a cause.

Barium swallow is the least to be done to exclude other pathologies, we can also conclude that thyroidectomy does not cause globus symptoms but rather improves it.