Esophageal Air in Patients with Globus Pharyngeus

Abstract

Background and Objectives The etiology of globus pharyngeus remains uncertain. It has been known there is a relationship between the presence of air bubbles in esophagus and GERD symptoms. The aim of this study is to identify relationship between the globus symptom and the presence of air column in esophagus. Subjects and Methods The study population consisted of 46 patients who underwent CT scan as part of evaluation for globus. Controls were chosen from the population consisted of patients with lymphadenopathy who underwent CT scan. The correlation between the presence of globus symptom and diameter, volume, and position of the air column was assessed using t-test. Reproducibility of diameter and volume of the esophageal air column was analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficient. Results In study group, the mean volume of the air column was 769.56±983.08mm3 the mean diameter was 8.24±4.90mm, the mean distance from the inferior border of posterior lamina of cricoid cartilage was 88.86±28.01mm. In control group, 682.18±767.28mm3, 8.37±5.50mm, 88.34±21.06mm, respectively. There were no differences of diameter, volume and distance of the air column between the two groups. We failed to obtain acceptable reliability when we compare the diameter and the volume of the esophageal air column. Conclusion There was no relationship between air column of esophagus and presence of globus symptom. And the measurement of diameter and volume of the esophageal air column change over time and it should be considered in a further study. Key words: Globus hystericus ㆍ Esophagus ㆍ Radiographic anatomy 핵심용어: ížˆìŠ¤í Œë¦¬êµ¬ ㆍ 식도 ㆍ ë°©ì‚¬ì„ í•´ë¶€í•™