Lump in Throat (Globus Sensation): Or something else? Differential Diagnosis

Congenital malformations, deformities, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99).

  • Malformations of the neck, pharynx (throat), larynx (larynx).

Respiratory system (J00-J99)

Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases (E00-E90).

Mouth, esophagus (esophagus), stomach, and intestines (K00-K67; K90-K93).

  • Chronic inflammation of the throat, pharynx (pharynx), larynx (larynx).
  • Chronic injuries in the area of the throat, pharynx (pharynx), larynx (larynx).
  • Dysfunction of the esophageal muscles.
  • Disease of the salivary glands
  • Fibromyalgia (fibromyalgia syndrome) – syndrome that can lead to chronic pain (at least 3 months) in several areas of the body.
  • Functional changes of the esophagus in the upper third.
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (synonyms: GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); gastroesophageal reflux disease (reflux disease); gastroesophageal reflux; reflux esophagitis; reflux disease; Reflux esophagitis; peptic esophagitis) – inflammatory disease of the esophagus (esophagitis) caused by the pathological reflux (reflux) of acid gastric juice and other gastric contents.
  • Contact granulomas – may be localized in the posterior part of the vocal folds.
  • Laryngeal hypersensitivity (hypersensitivity in the area of the larynx).
  • Motility disorders of the esophagus (esophagus).
  • Scarring changes after procedures on the upper swallowing tract, e.g., after tonsillectomy (tonsillectomy)
  • Opening disorder of the esophageal sphincter.
  • Polyps of the larynx
  • Enlarged gum tonsils
  • Enlargement of the tongue base (tongue base tonsil).
  • Zenker’s diverticulum – protrusions of the esophagus (esophagus) into the soft tissues of the throat; after a few bites, food intake is limited
  • Cysts in the area of the neck, pharynx (throat), larynx (larynx) – often in the area of the hypopharynx; cysts originating from the larynx can become very large

Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99).

  • Osseous (bony) changes of the cervical spine that extend into the swallowing tract; eg. ventral (facing the front of the body) osteophytes (new bone formations) in Forestier’s disease (synonym: spondylitis hyperostotica – idiopathic, degenerative spinal disease; formation of marked hyperostoses (abnormal increase in bone substance) on the anterior and lateral surfaces of the vertebral bodies and spangeniform bridging of the intervertebral disc spaces, leading to a suspension of mobility in the affected sections)

Neoplasms – tumor diseases (C00-D48).

  • Tumors of the soft tissues of the neck

Psyche – nervous system (F00-F99; G00-G99)

  • Psychological causes such as anxiety, depression, hypochondriacal disorder, stress – hence phrases such as “the throat feels like it’s closing up” or “getting stuck in the throat”
  • Spasmodic dysphonia (vocal cord spasm).

Symptoms and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings not elsewhere classified (R00-R99).

  • Functional dysphonia (hoarseness) – often women in occupations with heavy voice use; nonspecific symptoms: scratching, throat clearing, coughing; difficulty swallowing, globus; mucus sensation.
  • Dysphagia (dysphagia).
  • Lymphadenopathy (lymph node enlargement) in the neck.

Injuries, poisoning, and other sequelae of external causes (S00-T98).

Medication

  • Neuroleptics (antipsychotics)