Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) can be defined as chronic irritation of larynx caused by the abnormal retrograde flow of gastric contents into the upper airway, mostly due to upper esophageal sphincter dysfunction. Studies have found that upto 50% of laryngeal complaints that present in the otolaryngeal clinics are associated with LPR. LPR is suspected in cases […]
Tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure performed with or without adenoidectomy that completely removes the tonsil, including its capsule, by dissecting the peritonsillar space between the tonsil capsule and the muscular wall. Tonsillectomy is the second-most common ambulatory surgical procedure (first being myringotomy with insertion of tubes) performed on children in the United States. In the […]
Direct laryngoscopy is a routine procedure conducted to expose the larynx (voice box), to access and treat disorders causing voice dysfunction. Usually, the laryngoscope is placed through the mouth and the larynx is exposed under general anesthesia without difficulty. Laryngeal surgeries with help of an operating microscope (Microlaryngoscopy / MLS) is then conducted to remove […]
Nasopharynx is an air-containing cavity that occupies the uppermost extent of the aerodigestive tract, at the back of the nose which connects the nose to the mouth. Detailed anatomy and physiology of nasopharynx is out of scope of this article and is discussed separately. Malignancies arising in nasopharynx / nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) have different natural behavior […]
Nasopharynx is an air-containing cavity at the back of the nose, which occupies the uppermost extent of the aerodigestive tract. It’s like a small cuboidal box about two to three centimeters front to back and about three to four centimeters top to bottom and side to side. The cavity is lined by pseudo stratified ciliated […]
Nasal irrigation, (also termed as nasal rinsing, washout, douching or lavage) is a personal hygiene practice in which a person’s nasal cavity is washed with saline water to flush out debris and mucus from the nose and nasal sinuses. Nasal douching can be performed safely by people of all ages to support daily nasal hygiene. […]
According to the definition by American Academy of Family Physicians, Clinical practice guidelines are statements that include recommendations intended to optimize patient care. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is a non-departmental public body in England, that provides national guidance and advice to improve health and social care. On 7th March 2019, […]
A 42 year old female was seen at an outside facility for progressive bilateral hearing loss and was referred to the otology clinic. On further enquiry, she gave history of chronic head ache, mild balance difficulties and past history of tonic-clonic seizures, treated with anti-epileptics for a year. Physical examination revealed an alert and oriented […]
Globally it is estimated that over 5% of the world’s population i.e around 466 million people – have disabling hearing loss (432 million adults and 34 million children). Unaddressed hearing loss is the leading cause of morbidity and poses an annual cost of $750 billion globally. It is estimated that by 2050 over 900 million […]
The recently released 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Staging Manual, Head and Neck Section, introduces significant modifications from the prior 7th edition. In the head and neck domain, the most significant update creates a separate staging algorithm for high-risk human papilloma virus (HPV)-associated cancer of the oropharynx, distinguishing it from oropharyngeal cancer […]
