Articles

Nasal polyps are typically benign and consist of severely inflamed and overgrown nasal membranes (lining of the nasal cavity). Allergy may play a role in their development. A small percentage may be caused by papillomas (a type of wart) or may be premalignant or malignant (rare). Nasal polyps may be

Nasal valve collapse is defined as weakness of the cartilage of the nose responsible for keeping the nostrils open while breathing in. This may occur due to congenital reasons or as a result of surgery which can weaken the cartilage and / or structure of the nose. Care may include conservative measures

Otitis externa is an inflammation of the outer ear and ear canal. It is most commonly infectious, although it can be caused by inflammation or dermatitis (allergic reaction of the skin). Infections are most commonly bacterial, but may be fungal. Infections may be caused or worsened by water exposure,

Acute otitis media is an infection of the middle ear - the usually air-filled space between the tympanic membrane (eardrum) and the bone of the inner ear. Most infections will resolve without treatment or with oral antibiotics, while a small percentage will not improve with conservative treatment and

Otosclerosis is a disorder of the bone around the stapes, the third of the ossicles - the hearing bones of the middle ear. The bone around the base of the stapes becomes hardened and fixed, preventing the normal motion of the stapes in response to sound waves, resulting in a conductive hearing loss.

Postnasal drip refers to mucus draining from the nose back into the throat. This may be caused by allergies, infections, or other inflammatory conditions of the nose. It is usually treated medically, with nasal sprays or oral allergy medications (or antibiotics when an infection is found to be the cause).

Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which the airway becomes blocked during sleep, causing the patient to stop breathing for brief periods of time. Sleep apnea may lead to poor sleep and fatigue and over time may contribute to heart and lung failure and even death, if severe and left untreated.

Snoring is a condition in which the airway becomes blocked or may vibrate during sleep, causing the patient to produce sound. Snoring may be associated with sleep apnea which may lead to poor sleep and fatigue and over time may contribute to heart and lung failure and even death, if severe and left untreated.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most commonly occurring type of skin cancer. It appears most frequently in areas that are exposed to direct sunlight such as the face, nose, ears, lips, neck, and back of the hands. Squamous cell carcinomas can present as rough, scaly, red patches; wart or horn-like

Throat pain may come from a number of different problems - viral, fungal, or bacterial infection, allergies. acid reflux, postnasal drainage or other sinus or allergy problems, or tumors, among many others. Establishing a diagnosis, usually based on history and exam, which may include looking in the

Tinnitus describes any abnormal sound heard in the ear. Tinnitus may be described as a high or low pitch, ringing, roaring, buzzing, humming, cricket-like, or pulsating, among various other descriptions. Tinnitus is most commonly caused by hearing loss, but may have multiple other causes - wax build-up,

The turbinates are shelves of tissue along the sides of the inside of the nose. They are responsible for humidifying inspired air and moisturizing the nose. They also sense the flow of air through the nose. Turbinates may be enlarged due to bony overgrowth or inflammation and swelling of the lining.

A tympanic membrane perforation is a hole in the eardrum. It may occur as a result of trauma to the eardrum, an acute infection, chronic infection, or a cholesteatoma. Some perforations will heal on their own without treatment (usually those that have resulted from trauma or acute infection), while others

Vocal fold nodules are thickened areas of the vocal folds, akin to scar or callous, usually caused by trauma from vocal abuse or misuse. Care usually involves speech therapy to change the problem / causative vocative habits. Nodules may take a long time to resolve with speech therapy, but therapy is

Polyps of the vocal folds are usually benign and inflammatory in nature. A small percentage may represent cancer of the larynx. They are usually a result of exposure to an irritant (most commonly cigarette smoke). Treatment is primarily focused on avoidance or treatment of the triggers, and may include