Radiologic evaluation of the globus symptom using videotape recorder

The authors examined barium swallow in 213 patients with globus symptom and 79 patients with vague gastricproblems without golbus symptom. Abnormal findings were more frequently detected on videorecording than onconventional esophagogram. Radiologic findings were transient cricopharyngeal indentation (CPI), residual bariumcollection and delayed clearing from hypopharynx(RB), laryngeal penetration of barium, barium retention invallecula and or pyriform sinuses. Among them residual barium in hypopharynx was more frequently detected inpatients with globus symptom than in patients without golbus symptom. globus symptom was more frequent in adultwomen, but age and sex difference did not affect the incidence of the abnormal radiologic findings Cricopharyngealindentation was most frequently seen at the level of C5-6 interspace and had a tendency of moving upward graduallyduring the indentation in about half of the cases. Mos of the CPI was seen in early phase of swallowing and wasvisible within 1 sec. Residual barium collection was mostly seen in early phase of swallowing and was visiblewithin 1 sec. Residual barium collection was mostly seen in C6 or C6-7 level. RB had no cause and effectrelationship with CPI, and it was not secondary result of obstructive effect of CPI. The authors thick thatvideotape recording can be a useful method for evaluation of globus symptom. The residual barium collection inhypopharnx can be a significant finding in globus symptom.