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. 2021 Nov 29;64(4):360-363.
doi: 10.33160/yam.2021.11.007. eCollection 2021 Nov.

Use of Cervical Ultrasonography in Globus Sensation Investigation: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Takahiro Fukuhara  1 , Eriko Matsuda  1 , Ayame Ogawa  2 , Ryohei Donishi  1 , Satoshi Koyama  1 , Kazunori Fujiwara  1
Affiliations

Use of Cervical Ultrasonography in Globus Sensation Investigation: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Takahiro Fukuhara et al. Yonago Acta Med. .

Abstract

Background: A globus sensation is one of the most common complaints in otolaryngological practice. Patients with no associated abnormalities detected during the usual examinations performed in ENT clinics, are being diagnosed with globus sensation. Cervical ultrasonography is usually not performed in ENT clinics; however, it is useful in screening diseases of the subcutaneous tissue/organs, whose detection is not possible with the routine ENT examinations. The purpose of our study was to elucidate whether cervical ultrasound examination identifies abnormalities in patients with globus sensation.

Methods: A single-centre retrospective cohort study. Cervical ultrasonographic examinations were performed on patients with globus sensation at the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery of Tottori university hospital, a tertiary care centre, from January 2013 to September 2017. The subjects were 74 patients who complained of globus sensation with no abnormality in general otolaryngological examination including laryngoscopy.

Results: Ultrasonography detected structural abnormalities in 60.8% of the patients with globus sensation: thyroid disorders in 41 patients, including: 35 patients with thyroid nodules, 4 patients with Hashimoto's disease, 1 patient with Grave's disease, and 1 patient with subacute thyroiditis; Sjögren syndrome in 2 patients; and cervical lipoma in 1 patient. Furthermore, 2 patients with thyroid disorders had concomitant esophageal cancer.

Conclusion: Cervical ultrasonography identified thyroid disorders in patients with globus sensation, despite the normal ENT status. Therefore, it would be appropriate to adopt cervical ultrasonography as a routine examination at ENT clinics for patients with globus sensation.

Keywords: cervical ultrasonography; globus sensation; laryngoscope; thyroid disorders; thyroid nodule.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Flow chart showing patients’ demographics and their ultrasonographic results. US, ultrasonography; y, years.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
A pie chart showing the ultrasonographic findings in patients with globus sensation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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