Causes of Lump Sensation in Throat (Globus) Video

Given how often I see kids and adults with a persistent lump sensation in the throat (aka, globus) that has been going on for months if not years, I decided to make a  short video  going through all the different possible causes as well as testing required in order to make the correct diagnosis. Diagnosis is key because once you correctly know what is causing the globus, treatment is actually straightforward. But diagnosis is difficult because there are so many different possible reasons. …

11/18/2019 0

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Dr. Chang Quoted in a Refinery29 Lump in Throat Article

Dr. Chang was recently quoted in a Refinery29 article discussing the lump in throat complaint that people often have with extreme emotional changes. Read the full article here  which was first published on February 28, 2018.

3/21/2018 0

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Patients Who Travel a Long Distance for Care

Image courtesy of tigger11th at FreeDigitalPhotos.net In 2014, our practice made the difficult decision of no longer accepting new patients or performing any surgeries who live outside the Virginia region of the United States (specifically Northern Virginia) with the exception of a few conditions. The reasons are many in spite of what many (upset) patients felt to be an unwarranted geographic limitation. This blog tries to explain why we have taken this step which is still in effect today…

10/27/2015 0

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Does Drinking Alkaline Water Help With Reflux?

Image by WJ Pilsak from Wikipedia Treatment in some reflux-sufferers may require addressing not just the acid in reflux, but also the pepsin. In one tantalizing  research paper,  alkaline water (pH 8.8) was found to instantly and permanently inactivate pepsin in vitro (ie, in a test tube). Pepsin is a stomach enzyme that can cause inflammation and mucosal damage when in the throat area. This peptic enzyme can be deposited outside the stomach due to laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and ca…

7/07/2013 1

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How Does Neuropathy Lead to Lump in Throat or Phlegmy Throat Sensation?

To preface, have you ever been to the dentist and received a novacaine injection prior to a dental procedure? Did you notice that where the injection is performed, it feels as if the area feels really swollen and also you feel like you are drooling... but than when you look in the mirror, there's no drooling and there's no swelling either? In this dental situation where novacaine got injected leading to a temporary induced neuropathy...  a similar phenomenon can also occur in the th…

5/29/2013 0

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Reflux Increases Risk of Throat Cancer by 78%

Brown University researchers found that frequent heartburn was an independent risk factor for not only esophageal cancer but also cancer of the throat and vocal cords. This conclusion was based on a large population study involving 631 patients with throat cancer and 1,234 without throat cancer as a control group. The study group also did not heavily smoke, drink, or have HPV (other independent risk factors for throat cancer). Individuals with frequent heartburn were found to have a 78%…

5/24/2013 1

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New Video on Esophageal Manometry and 24 Hour Multi-Channel pH and Impedance Testing

Our office has created a new video describing what a patient goes through when they undergo esophageal manometry as well as 24 hour multi-channel pH and impedance testing. This test is often ordered when a patient is suspected to be suffering from reflux , whether acid or non-acid , or is possibly suffering from abnormal muscle activity of the esophagus. Symptoms that a patient may experience that may lead to such testing include: - phlegmy throat - lump sensation in the throat - chr…

7/12/2011 1

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Fauquier Hospital Now Offers 24 Hour Multichannel pH and Impedance Testing for Reflux!

As far as we know,  Virginia Hospital Center's Heartburn Center  in Arlington, VA and now  Fauquier Hospital  are the only places in Northern Virginia that offers 24 hour Multichannel Intraluminal Impedance (MII) testing to look for non-acidic reflux. Oftentimes, this test is combined with pH probe testing and manometry to measure the more traditional acid reflux as well as esophageal motility.  These tests are important when working up patients with symptoms of chronic cough , globus , phl…

1/20/2011 0

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Mattress Wedges for Reflux Treatment

I often see patients with throat symptoms of reflux including: • Cough • Throat-Clearing • Phlegmy or Mucus Sensation in the Throat • Mild Sore Throat • Swollen sensation in the throat etc, etc, etc Although this can be treated with medications including proton pump inhibitors ( prilosec , prevacid ) as well as H2-blockers ( zantac , pepcid , axid , etc), there are some lifestyle changes which also can be just as if not more effective than medications. Such lifestyle changes includ…

7/24/2010 0

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What a 24 Hour Multichannel pH and Impedance Testing Looks Like

I often order a special test called "24 hour Multichannel pH and Impedance Testing" when working up patients with symptoms of chronic cough , globus , phlegmy throat , and/or throat clearing . This test measures any non-acid and well as acid reflux along with muscle contractility of the esophagus continuously over a 24 hour period of time. The catch is that a catheter needs to be placed through the nose and into the stomach AND left in place for 24 hours. Patients often ask what t…

4/16/2010 0

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Mucus in Throat or the Phlegmy Throat!!!

NOTE: A more complete discussion on this topic can be found here . A common complaint of patients seeing an ENT doctor is for a persistent phlegmy throat or sensation of mucus in the throat. Other symptoms that a patient may complain of include constant throat-clearing, cough , raspy voice, and a lump sensation in the middle of the throat (aka, globus ). Reflux (Acidic or Non-acidic) In the VAST majority of patients with this complaint, it is due to a disorder called " laryngophary…

3/11/2009 0

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New Article on Globus Pharyngeus

New section on Lump in the Throat (Globus Pharyngeus) has been added. Click here .

11/12/2006 0

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