I have a feeling of lump in the throat but scan shows nothing. Please advise.

Question

Hello doctor,

I have had a feeling of a lump in my throat for over a month with a feeling of trouble swallowing. There is no pain and I can get food down but it feels like it takes more time to get the food down. I went to a hospital and they did a CAT scan of my throat and said there are no tumors. It feels like I have to throw up but when I try to, it feels like I am going to throw up a ball and cannot. I got this pressure in my nose and throat/chest when I tried to throw up the other day. Also, I saw small blood streaks in the saliva while I was trying to throw up. I have not seen blood any other time besides then.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Swallowing is a process which starts at the mouth and ends at the stomach. CT scan for your throat just investigates the pharynx and the upper esophagus. You have to investigate the whole track. A barium swallow is so helpful as it can detect strictures and masses along the swallowing tract. Barium swallow scan is cheap, safe and fast. The second step is pharyngoscopy and it may be needed or not according to the barium swallowing scan.