Globus Pharyngeus: A Common Clinical Entity in OPD at a Tertiary-Level Hospital in Bangladesh
Background: Globus pharyngeus is a persistent or intermittent, non-painful sensation of a lump in the throat without an identifiable structural lesion. Although usually benign, it has a multifactorial etiology, including laryngopharyngeal reflux, chronic pharyngitis, thyroid disorders, and psychological factors, requiring careful evaluation to exclude significant underlying disease.Objective: To determine the frequency and demographic distribution of globus pharyngeus and related throat conditions among patients attending the outpatient department of a tertiary-level hospital.Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the outpatient department of Ad-din Women’s Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh. A total of 100 patients presenting with throat discomfort or foreign body sensation were enrolled. Demographic and clinical data were collected using a structured data collection sheet. Diagnoses were established through detailed history, clinical examination, and ENT specialist assessment. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23 with descriptive statistics.Result: Among the 100 patients included, 61 (61%) were female and 39 (39%) were male, indicating a female predominance in throat-related complaints. The highest proportion of patients belonged to the 21–30 years age group 32 (32%), followed by the 31–40 years group 27 (27%), suggesting that young and middle-aged adults were most frequently affected. Laryngopharyngeal reflux was the most common diagnosis in both sexes, accounting for the largest share of cases, while chronic pharyngitis was the second most frequent condition. Globus pharyngeus represented a smaller proportion of the study population but was observed more commonly among middle-aged patients than younger individuals. Overall, the findings demonstrated distinct age- and sex-related differences in the distribution of throat disorders, with reflux-related conditions predominating across most demographic groups.Conclusion: Laryngopharyngeal reflux was the predominant diagnosis, whereas globus pharyngeus remained a clinically important condition. Early recognition and thorough evaluation are essential for accurate diagnosis, appropriate management, exclusion of serious pathology, and patient reassurance. The Journal of Ad-din Women's Medical College;Vol. 14(2), July 2026; p 26-32
Authors
- Md Arafat Rahman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6392-0339)
- Anower Parvej
- Md Mahmudul Hasan Khan
- Najiba Kabir
- Lamia Akter
Institutions
- Ad-din Women's Medical College (BD)
Publication Details
- Journal
- The Journal of Ad-din Women s Medical College
- Published
- 2026-11-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3329/jawmc.v14i2.94387
- Primary Topic
- Respiratory and Cough-Related Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00