Globus
A persistent sensation of a lump in the throat, with normal swallowing.
What it means
Globus is the sensation of a lump, tightness or fullness in the throat when nothing is actually obstructing it. From the Latin for ball or sphere.
The defining feature, and the one that separates it from something serious: swallowing itself is normal. Food and drink go down without difficulty. In fact the sensation is often better when swallowing and worse between swallows — the reverse of true obstruction.
It is common, frequently associated with stress, anxiety or acid reflux, and the older term "globus hystericus" is obsolete and was never accurate.
In practice
Contrast with dysphagia, where food physically sticks. The two are managed completely differently, and confusing them is the main risk.
Persistent globus with normal examination is usually managed conservatively, sometimes with a trial of acid suppression.
Why it matters
Globus is reassuring only once these have been excluded, each of which requires assessment rather than reassurance:
- Food actually sticking, or difficulty getting a swallow started
- Pain on swallowing
- Weight loss, hoarseness lasting over three weeks, or a neck lump
- Symptoms progressing rather than fluctuating
Globus that persists unchanged for months, with none of the above, is genuinely benign — and knowing that often eases it.
Clinically reviewed by Dr Mohammad Zubair Khan, GMC 7563469
Last reviewed
August 30, 2026