What causes pain on the right side of the Adam’s apple, and what should I do?

Right-sided pain near the Adam’s apple may result from conditions such as pharyngitis, subacute thyroiditis, or hypopharyngeal cancer. Patients are advised to seek appropriate management based on their specific clinical presentation.

1. Pharyngitis: Common symptoms include dryness, congestion, burning sensation, swelling and pain in the pharynx, painful swallowing, and sticky sputum. Therefore, right-sided pain near the Adam’s apple may be attributable to pharyngitis. Under a physician’s guidance, patients may take anti-inflammatory medications such as cefixime tablets or amoxicillin capsules.

2. Subacute thyroiditis: This condition is often triggered by viral infection of the throat and may cause tenderness localized to the right side of the Adam’s apple, with possible radiation of pain to the submandibular region, retroauricular area, or neck. Symptomatic relief can be achieved under medical supervision using medications such as aspirin tablets or celecoxib capsules.

3. Hypopharyngeal cancer: Typical manifestations include a foreign-body sensation in the laryngopharynx, painful swallowing, coughing or aspiration, and cervical masses. Right-sided pain near the Adam’s apple may indicate this malignancy. Patients should promptly seek hospital evaluation and undergo treatment modalities such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiotherapy to alleviate symptoms.

In addition, such pain may also stem from common colds or “heatiness” (a traditional Chinese medicine concept referring to inflammatory or hyperactive conditions). Patients are advised to consult a healthcare provider without delay for accurate diagnosis and management.