What condition is characterized by difficulty swallowing and hoarseness?

Dysphagia, which refers to difficulty swallowing, is often associated with conditions that affect the esophagus, the throat muscles, or neurological function. This condition causes pain or discomfort when swallowing liquids or solids and can manifest in various ways, such as coughing, choking, or a sensation of food getting stuck in the throat.

Hoarseness typically results from irritation or inflammation of the vocal cords or larynx, which can occur alongside dysphagia due to a common underlying cause, such as an infection, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or structural abnormalities. In these scenarios, the esophageal or respiratory systems are involved, leading to symptoms in both swallowing and voice quality.

The other options do not correlate with both difficulty swallowing and hoarseness. Clubbing is a physical finding often associated with chronic respiratory diseases and does not involve swallowing issues or voice changes. Pitting edema refers to a condition characterized by swollen areas in the body, most often related to fluid retention, and has no association with swallowing or voice problems. Ascites, the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, can lead to swallowing difficulties indirectly but does not typically cause hoarseness.