Lump in the throat | De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen

Quick clarity about the cause. A lump-in-throat sensation is a common complaint. People are often worried when they visit our clinic with this. You can be…

De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen ENT care Throat & voice Coughing Lump in the throat Swallowing difficulties Tonsillitis Voice complaints Nose & sinuses Loss of smell Nasal congestion Nasal polyps Sinusitis Ears & hearing Ear infection Earache Earwax Hearing loss Tinnitus Focus areas Allergy Sleep & snoring The practice For referrers Contact Request a referral NL EN DE Home / Throat & voice / Lump in the throat Throat Lump in the throat Quick clarity about the cause. A lump-in-throat sensation is a common complaint. People are often worried when they visit our clinic with this. You can be seen quickly with us, so you get clarity about the cause quickly. Request a referral Treatment On this page The complaint in brief Recognisable symptoms Assessment and diagnosis Causes Treatment What you can expect Frequently asked questions The complaint in brief A sensation, not a physical blockage A lump-in-throat sensation is often hard to describe, especially when it feels different from simply feeling that something is stuck in the throat. The cause can range from stress to a physical condition. It's therefore important not to keep living with it: have the complaint assessed, so it becomes clear what's going on. Has the lump-in-throat sensation lasted a long time, or does it come with difficulty eating, a change in voice, earache, fever or weight loss? Discuss this with your GP; they can refer you to us to determine the cause. Recognisable symptoms Do you recognise this? The feeling that there's a small grain in the throat A plug of mucus in the throat that won't swallow properly A burning sensation in the throat Constant clearing of the throat, coughing, or swallowing very often An irritated throat Assessment and diagnosis How do we reach a diagnosis? Assessment starts with a conversation: the ENT specialist asks questions to get a picture of your symptoms and to determine what further assessment is needed. Usually the specialist also examines your throat with a videoscope. You'll stick out your tongue, make some voice sounds and/or swallow, so the throat and vocal cord function can be properly assessed. If you'd like, you can watch along on the screen yourself. If a specific cause is suspected, targeted follow-up assessment follows: for example an allergy test if allergy is suspected, or a speech therapy assessment when voice use seems to play a role. Causes What can be the cause? Causes vary widely, from something everyday like stress to a physical condition that requires further treatment. Harmless causes Stress — tension can express itself in various ways, including as a lump-in-throat sensation. Sensation of mucus — you swallow a lot of mucus and saliva unnoticed every day; becoming aware of this can feel like a lump in the throat. Muscle tension — tensed neck and throat muscles while swallowing, coughing or clearing the throat can cause a lump-in-throat feeling. Less often: a physical cause Acid reflux — stomach acid can sometimes cause a lump-in-throat sensation. Allergy — often also an itchy or dry sensation. Enlarged or chronically inflamed lingual tonsil — often also fever, sore throat and a bad taste. Throat cancer — very rare; besides the lump sensation, symptoms such as difficulty eating, a change in voice, earache and weight loss also occur. If this is suspected, the ENT specialist acts quickly. Treatment Cause first, then the approach Treatment depends on the cause we identify in your case. For acid reflux Medication If this is the cause, medication can bring relief. For allergy Medication If an allergy turns out to be the cause, medication can reduce the symptoms. For throat muscle tension Referral to a speech therapist If voice use plays a role, a speech therapist can offer relief with exercises. What you can expect Here's how your care journey goes Your GP refers you; we schedule a first conversation about your symptoms. The ENT specialist asks about your symptoms in detail to get a clear picture of your case. If needed, we examine your throat and vocal cords with a videoscope; you can watch along on the screen. We discuss the best treatment and continue to monitor its effect with you. Who treats you One dedicated ENT specialist throughout your care You are supported personally, from the first consultation through to treatment. dr. Anne-Martine de Heer ENT specialist BIG 19066557501 Frequently asked questions Frequently asked questions Want to read more? See also kno.nl and mlds.nl . {{ f.q }} {{ f.sign }} {{ f.a }} Make an appointment Had that lump-in-throat feeling for a while? For an appointment at De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen you need a referral from your GP. Discuss your symptoms with your GP; they assess whether a referral is needed. With the referral, you contact us and we schedule your consultation. Get in touch Other throat complaints How to arrange a referral Discuss your symptoms with your GP Your GP assesses whether a referral is needed Get in touch to schedule your consultation De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen Personal, specialist care in Nijmegen and the surrounding area. Feedback & complaints Privacy notice © 2026 De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen · KvK 68663137 · AGB 22221372
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Home / Throat & voice / Lump in the throat
Throat

Lump in the throat

Quick clarity about the cause. A lump-in-throat sensation is a common complaint. People are often worried when they visit our clinic with this. You can be seen quickly with us, so you get clarity about the cause quickly.

Request a referral Treatment
The complaint in brief

A sensation, not a physical blockage

A lump-in-throat sensation is often hard to describe, especially when it feels different from simply feeling that something is stuck in the throat. The cause can range from stress to a physical condition.

It's therefore important not to keep living with it: have the complaint assessed, so it becomes clear what's going on.

Has the lump-in-throat sensation lasted a long time, or does it come with difficulty eating, a change in voice, earache, fever or weight loss? Discuss this with your GP; they can refer you to us to determine the cause.
Recognisable symptoms

Do you recognise this?

The feeling that there's a small grain in the throat
A plug of mucus in the throat that won't swallow properly
A burning sensation in the throat
Constant clearing of the throat, coughing, or swallowing very often
An irritated throat
Assessment and diagnosis

How do we reach a diagnosis?

Assessment starts with a conversation: the ENT specialist asks questions to get a picture of your symptoms and to determine what further assessment is needed.

Usually the specialist also examines your throat with a videoscope. You'll stick out your tongue, make some voice sounds and/or swallow, so the throat and vocal cord function can be properly assessed. If you'd like, you can watch along on the screen yourself.

If a specific cause is suspected, targeted follow-up assessment follows: for example an allergy test if allergy is suspected, or a speech therapy assessment when voice use seems to play a role.

Causes

What can be the cause?

Causes vary widely, from something everyday like stress to a physical condition that requires further treatment.

Harmless causes

  • Stress — tension can express itself in various ways, including as a lump-in-throat sensation.
  • Sensation of mucus — you swallow a lot of mucus and saliva unnoticed every day; becoming aware of this can feel like a lump in the throat.
  • Muscle tension — tensed neck and throat muscles while swallowing, coughing or clearing the throat can cause a lump-in-throat feeling.

Less often: a physical cause

  • Acid reflux — stomach acid can sometimes cause a lump-in-throat sensation.
  • Allergy — often also an itchy or dry sensation.
  • Enlarged or chronically inflamed lingual tonsil — often also fever, sore throat and a bad taste.
  • Throat cancer — very rare; besides the lump sensation, symptoms such as difficulty eating, a change in voice, earache and weight loss also occur. If this is suspected, the ENT specialist acts quickly.
Treatment

Cause first, then the approach

Treatment depends on the cause we identify in your case.

For acid reflux

Medication

If this is the cause, medication can bring relief.

For allergy

Medication

If an allergy turns out to be the cause, medication can reduce the symptoms.

For throat muscle tension

Referral to a speech therapist

If voice use plays a role, a speech therapist can offer relief with exercises.

What you can expect

Here's how your care journey goes

Your GP refers you; we schedule a first conversation about your symptoms. The ENT specialist asks about your symptoms in detail to get a clear picture of your case. If needed, we examine your throat and vocal cords with a videoscope; you can watch along on the screen. We discuss the best treatment and continue to monitor its effect with you.
Who treats you

One dedicated ENT specialist throughout your care

You are supported personally, from the first consultation through to treatment.

dr. Anne-Martine de HeerENT specialist
BIG 19066557501
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

Want to read more? See also kno.nl and mlds.nl.

{{ f.a }}
Make an appointment

Had that lump-in-throat feeling for a while?

For an appointment at De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen you need a referral from your GP. Discuss your symptoms with your GP; they assess whether a referral is needed. With the referral, you contact us and we schedule your consultation.

Get in touch Other throat complaints
How to arrange a referral
    Discuss your symptoms with your GP Your GP assesses whether a referral is needed Get in touch to schedule your consultation