Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)

Two main types:

1. Oropharyngeal dysphagia - char: by difficulty initiating a swallow, often accompanied by coughing, drooling, or aspiration
2. Esophageal dysphagia - char: by delayed sensations of food sticking in the upper or lower chest

In oropharyngeal dysphagia, case may present with ear pain (referred from a hypopharyngeal lesion)

Both solids and liquids => neuromuscular disorder

Initially solids and later liquids => mechanical obstruction such as malignancy

Next step is nasopharyngeal laryngoscopy

As with many conditions, it's often useful to think about causes of a symptom in a structured way:

Endoscopy should be performed once the following alarming symptoms are present:

1. Weight loss
2. Blood/heme in stool
3. Anemia
4. Age >60
5. Duration >6 months

Globus phryngeus

A clinical syndrome associated with a sensation of a lump in the throat in the absence of physical abnormality, and is usually of psychogenic origin.