Evaluation of symptoms

Abstract

Symptoms of pharyngeal/oesophageal diseases are related to swallowing function, such as dysphagia, odynophagia, globus sensation or heartburn. Patients often do not differentiate between these symptoms and report “swallowing problems”. The crossing of airway and digestive tract in the hypopharynx is a critical region for swallowing and respiration: if protection of the airway during swallowing is not secured, aspiration occurs. Moreover, the pharynx is not only part of the upper digestive tract, but also of the vocal tract and therefore influences resonance and articulation.