Role of flexible transnasal esophagoscopy and patient education in the management of globus pharyngeus

Background/Purpose: Globus pharyngeus and dysphagia are common complaints of patients referred to ear, nose, and throat (ENT) clinics. We aimed to establish an efficient method to rule out the presence of malignancy in patients with globus pharyngeus and dysphagia. Methods: The use of flexible transnasal esophagoscopy (TNE) was evaluated in 30 patients with globus pharyngeus and 6 patients with dysphagia. The patients were immediately informed of the findings on TNE examination, and then treatments were planned. All patients were treated with lansoprazole for 2 weeks and provided education on lifestyle changes at the initial examination and at the 3-month follow-up. Results: The patients reported an improvement in symptoms of globus pharyngeus after treatment (p < 0.001). Follow-up TNE confirmed improvement with less dysphagia, erythema, and vocal cord edema evident (all p < 0.001). Conclusion: The use of TNE and patient education are efficient management strategies for patients with symptoms of globus pharyngeus and dysphagia. Copyright (C) 2012, Elsevier Taiwan LLC & Formosan Medical Association. All rights reserved.