Otorhinolaryngology

Otolaryngologist performing an endoscopic sinus surgical procedure

Otolaryngology or ENT (ear, nose, and throat) is the branch of medicine and surgery that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, and head and neck disorders. The full name of the specialty is otolaryngology–head and neck surgery. Practitioners are called otolaryngologists–head and neck surgeons, or sometimes otorhinolaryngologists (ORL).

The term comes from the Classical Greek roots ὠτ- - ot- (root of οὖς) "ear", λαρυγγ- - laryng- (root of λάρυγξ) "larynx/throat", and the suffix -logy "study", and it literally means "the study of ear and throat".

The full term otorhinolaryngology (neoclassical Greek and modern Greek: ὠτο(ρ)ρινολαρυγγολογία), also includes ῥινο- - rhino- (root of ῥίς) "nose".

Explanation

Otolaryngologists are medical doctors (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.

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).

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

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Head and neck surgery

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

Otology/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

See also

• Head mirror
• Physician
• Surgeon
• Audiology

External links

• NHS Evidence – ENT and audiology
• Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery – journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation
• Acta Oto-laryngologica – a journal
• Journal of Voice – a journal
• Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology – journal of the Nordic Cooperation Council of Logopedics and Phoniatrics and of the British Voice Association
• Ear, Nose and Throat Tests and Procedures, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Societies

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