Obama gets CT scan, fiber optic test for sore throat caused by acid reflux, officials say

FILE: Dec. 5, 2014: President Obama in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, in Washington, D.C. (AP)

President Obama received medical treatment Saturday for a persistent sore throat that his doctor said is being caused by acid reflux.

The president was treated in the morning by an ear, nose and throat specialist from Fort Belvoir Medical Center, under the supervision of his physician, Dr. Ronny Jackson. He said the specialist conducted a fiber optic exam, based on the president's sore throat symptoms over the past couple weeks and that the results showed soft-tissue swelling in the back of the throat.

It is unclear where the exam was conducted because Obama did not officially leave the White House until 2 p.m. for a second exam.

Jackson said he determined after the first procedure, after consulting with the specialist, that "further evaluation with a routine CT scan was prudent."

He also said the symptoms are consistent with soft tissue inflammation related to acid reflux and will be treated accordingly.

The second procedure was performed at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

Jackson said the scan, the results of which were normal, was conducted as a matter of convenience for the president’s schedule -- not out of necessity.

White House Press Secretary Josh Ernest said the president had some free time in his schedule Saturday afternoon.

The 53-year-old Obama had a physical exam in May and was said to be in excellent health.

The trip to Walter Reed and back took about an hour and 40 minutes.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.