Abstract
To verify the frequency of swallowing complaints in patients with benign nonsurgical thyroid disease and compare the self-perception of swallowing disorder intensity between different types of thyroid disease. The study sample comprised 39 women aged 19-58 years (38.54 ± 10.74) with hypothyroidism (n=22; 56.4%) or thyroid nodules (n=17; 43.6%). Presence and type of swallowing complaint and self-perception of swallowing disorder intensity were investigated by means of self-ratings recorded on a 100-millimeter visual analog scale. The data were analyzed by descriptive measures and the Mann-Whitney nonparametric test was used to compare the self-perception of swallowing disorder intensity between both clinical diagnoses of thyroid disease. The level of 5% was adopted for statistical significance. Twenty-six (66.7%) individuals reported the following swallowing complaints: pharyngolaryngeal stasis sensation (37.15%), chocking (34.29%), and odynophagia (28.57%). The mean value of self-perception of swallowing disorder intensity by the visual analog scale was 59.35 (± 27.38) millimeters. No difference in self-perception was reported between the clinical diagnoses of thyroid disease. In this sample, swallowing complaint was frequently observed in patients with benign nonsurgical thyroid disease. Moderate self-perception of swallowing disorder intensity was reported regardless of the clinical diagnosis of thyroid disease.
Highlights
Thyroid disorders are the second most common endocrine condition worldwide[1]
As each patient could report more than one complaint, 35 reports were registered and grouped into three categories: pharyngolaryngeal stasis sensation (37.15%), chocking (34.29%), and odynophagia (28.57%)
The mean value for self-perception of swallowing disorder intensity exceeded the midpoint of the millimetric line, reaching 59.35 (± 27.38) mm
Summary
Thyroid disorders are the second most common endocrine condition worldwide[1]. Swallowing dysfunctions are the result of compressive effects or the consequence of surgical interventions[2,3], with gastrointestinal tract dysmotility leading the complaint reports[4,5,6].Changes in the oropharyngeal transit differ according to the type of thyroid disease and seem to be more concentrated in the laryngopharyngeal region[4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12]. Swallowing dysfunctions are the result of compressive effects or the consequence of surgical interventions[2,3], with gastrointestinal tract dysmotility leading the complaint reports[4,5,6]. Discomfort is perceived in the cervical region, manifested as dry throat, dyspnea, globus pharyngeus, pain, itching, and burning[5,8], which are symptoms related to myxedema that compromise laryngeal mobility and the proper functioning of pharyngoesophageal transit[4,6]. In patients with thyroid nodules, the symptoms are associated with the degree of compression, and there may be surgical indication even for benign cases[9,10,11]. Reports indicate specific cases of dysphagia associated with thyrotoxic myopathy, which is a more unusual condition[12]
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