An unusual cause of foreign-body sensation in the throat: a displaced superior cornu of the thyroid cartilage.

Foreign-body sensation is a nonspecific symptom of aerodigestive tract diseases. We describe the case of a 42-year-old man who presented with a foreign-body sensation in the throat that was found to be caused by a displaced superior cornu of the thyroid cartilage. Such a displacement is not well known, but we believe that it may not be rare. These cases can be overlooked and misdiagnosed as chronic nonspecific pharyngitis or laryngopharyngeal reflux. However, a careful laryngoscopic examination by an otolaryngologist who considers the possibility of such a pathology may result in an accurate diagnosis, which might spare an affected patient from a lifelong pharmacotherapeutic regimen.