Role of salivary function in patients with globus pharyngeus

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to investigate the prevalence and the clinical role of salivary hypofunction in patients with globus sensation. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study in 340 patients with globus pharyngeus. A standard questionnaire and (99m)Tc-pertechnate salivary scintigraphy were used to evaluate salivary hypofunction, with a full examination from the nasal cavity to the larynx (N = 303). We also investigated the effect of xerostomia management on globus symptoms (N = 252). RESULTS: The symptom scores for xerostomia were higher in patients with severe globus (p < .05). Objective salivary hypofunction was noted in 57.4% of the patients, based on the reference values from control groups. Globus symptoms were more severe in the subgroup with salivary hypofunction (p = .0447). Conservative management of xerostomia significantly reduced the severity of globus at 1 and 3 months (p = .0002) regardless of salivary function. CONCLUSIONS: Salivary hypofunction seems to be an aggravating factor in globus pharyngeus, but not a direct cause. Conservative management of xerostomia improves globus symptoms.