Globus sensation as early presentation of hypopharyngeal cancer.

OBJECTIVES

To identify if patients with early hypopharyngeal carcinoma can present with only the single complaint of globus sensation.

DESIGN

Retrospective case review.

SETTING

Teaching Hospital in Scotland.

PARTICIPANTS

Cohort of 23 patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma. Retrospective review of their case notes with regards to their hospital pathway from initial referral from the General Practitioner to diagnosis.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Symptoms & signs on presentation, subsequent investigations and time interval between initial presentation and diagnosis.

RESULTS

We identified two patients (9%) who presented early with globus or other soft symptoms as the only complaint and with normal clinical findings. There was a 78%'pick up' rate of abnormalities in the barium swallow examination.

CONCLUSION

We believe this can have important clinical implications in the screening & investigation of globus patients who represent a significant outpatient workload. We review the relevant literature.