Otolaryngology

Otolaryngologist performing an endoscopic sinus surgical procedure.

A 40-watt CO₂ laser used in otolaryngology.

Otolaryngology (pronounced /ˌoʊ toʊ ˌlæ rɪŋ ˈgɒ lə dʒi/) or ENT (ear, nose, and throat) is the branch of medicine and surgery that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the head and neck. It is the oldest medical practice in the United States and nearly 50% of all office visits pertain to the ear, nose, and throat.

Explanation

The full name of the specialty is otorhinolaryngology from neoclassical Greek and modern Greek: ωτο(ρ)ρινολαρυγγολογία from ὠτ-, ot- (root of οὖς) "ear", ῥινο-, rhino- (root of ῥίς) "nose", λαρυγγ-, laryng- (root of λάρυγξ) "larynx/throat", and the suffix -logy "study"; thus, the term literally means "the study of ear, nose and throat".

Otolaryngologists are physicians (MD, DO, MBBS, MBChB, etc.) who, in the United States, complete at least five years of surgical residency training. This is composed of one year in general surgical training and four years in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery; in the past it varied between two and three years of each. In Canada, practitioners complete a five-year residency training after medical school.

Following residency training some otolaryngologists elect to complete advanced subspeciality fellowship training which can be 1–2 years in duration (pediatric otolaryngology, neuro-otology, laryngology, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, rhinology, or head and neck oncology).^{[citation needed]}

Practitioners are called and professionally designated by the more accurate term otolaryngologists – head and neck surgeons, as specialists trained in otolaryngology are experts in surgical conditions of the head and neck. Some people refer to it simply as head and neck surgery. In the United States, otolaryngology is one of the most competitive specialties in medicine in which to obtain a residency position following medical school.

Subspecialties

Head and neck	Facial plastics	Otology	Neuro-otology*	Rhinology/sinus	Laryngology	Pediatrics*	Sleep*
Surgical oncology	Facial cosmetic surgery	Ear	Middle and inner ear	Sinusitis	Voice therapy	Velopalatine insufficiency
Reconstruction	Maxillofacial	Hearing	Temporal bone	Allergy	Phono-surgery	Cleft lip and palate
Endocrine surgery	Trauma		Skull base	Anterior skull base		Airway
			Dizziness	Apnea and snoring		Vascular malformations
						Cochlear implant/BAHA

(* Currently recognized by American Board of Medical Subspecialties)

Topics in otolaryngology, head and neck surgery

Contributors please visit the new Current Otorhinolaryngology WikiBook project before posting your academic topics here. High-level professional-quality material needed!

Head and neck oncology

• Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx
• Oral cancer
• Skin Cancer of the head & neck
• Thyroid cancer
• Endocrine surgery of the head and neck (thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy)
• Microvascular free flap reconstruction
• Skull base surgery
• Salivary gland cancer

Otology and neuro-otology

Main articles: Otology and Neurotology

• Dizziness
  • BPPV – benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
  • labyrinthitis/vestibular neuronitis
  • Ménière's disease/endolymphatic hydrops
  • Perilymphatic fistula
  • acoustic neuroma

• Hearing loss
• Mastoiditis
• Otitis externa – outer ear or ear canal inflammation
• Otitis media – middle ear inflammation
• Otitis interna – inner ear inflammation
• Perforated eardrum (hole in the eardrum due to infection, trauma, explosion or loud noise)
• Ear surgery

Rhinology

Rhinology pertains to sinus diseases and the anterior skull base.

• Environmental allergies
• Sinusitis – acute, chronic
• Rhinitis
• Empty nose syndrome

Pediatrics

• Adenoidectomy
• Caustic ingestion
• Cricotracheal resection
• Decannulation
• laryngomalacia
• Laryngotracheal reconstruction
• Myringotomy and tubes
• Obstructive sleep apnea – pediatric
• Tonsillectomy

Laryngology

• Dysphonia/hoarseness
  • Laryngitis
  • Reinke's edema
  • Vocal cord nodules and polyps
• Spasmodic dysphonia
• Tracheostomy
• Cancer of the larynx
• Vocology – science and practice of voice habilitation

Facial plastic and reconstructive surgery

Facial plastic and reconstructive surgery is a one-year fellowship open to otolaryngologists and plastic surgeons who wish to specialize in the aesthetic and reconstructive surgery of the head, face, and neck.

• Rhinoplasty and septoplasty
• Facelift (rhytidectomy)
• Browlift
• Blepharoplasty
• Otoplasty
• Genioplasty
• Injectable cosmetic treatments
• Trauma to the face
  • Nasal bone fracture
  • Mandible fracture
  • Orbital fracture
  • Frontal sinus fracture
  • Complex lacerations and soft tissue damage
• Skin cancer (e.g. Basal Cell Carcinoma)

See also

• American Board of Otolaryngology
• American Osteopathic Board of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology
• Head mirror
• Surgeon
• Audiology

External links

Journals

• Acta Oto-laryngologica
• JARO-Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology
• Journal of Voice
• Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology – journal of the Nordic Cooperation Council of Logopedics and Phoniatrics and the British Voice Association
• Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery link – journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation

Societies

• American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
• American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy
• American Head and Neck Society
• American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society
• Association for Research in Otolaryngology
• Association of Otolaryngology Administrators
• Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery
• British Association of Otorhinolaryngologists – Head & Neck Surgeons
• Canadian Society of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
• TWJ Foundation
• Voice Foundation

Other

• Guildford ENT – a specialist clinic that treats nose, throat and ear problems in adults and children at Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, Surrey.
• Various Conditions and Treatments done by Otolaryngoloist and FAQ's