Is there an association between Helicobacter pylori in the inlet patch and globus sensation?

AIM: To determine the association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and globus sensation (GS) in the patients with cervical inlet patch. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients with esophageal inlet patches were identified from 6760 consecutive patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy prospectively. In these 68 patients with cervical inlet patches, symptoms of globus sensation (lump in the throat), hoarseness, sore throat, frequent clearing of the throat, cough, dysphagia, odynophagia of at least 3 mo duration was questioned prior to endoscopy. RESULTS: Cervical heterotopic gastric mucosa (CHGM) was found in 68 of 6760 patients. The endoscopic prevalence of CHGM was determined to be 1%. H. pylori was identified in 16 (23.5%) of 68 patients with inlet patch. 53 patients were classified as CHGM D. This group included 48 patients with globus sensation, 4 patients with chronic cough and 1 patient with hoarseness. All the patients who were H.,pylori (+) in cervical inlet patches had globus sensation. CONCLUSION: Often patients with CHGM have a long history of troublesome throat symptoms. We speculate that disturbances in globus sensation are like non-ulcer dyspepsia. (C) 2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved.