Otolaryngology or ENT (ear, nose and throat) is the branch of medicine 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). Otolaryngology is one of the most competitive specialties to enter for physicians.

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 neck".

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

 

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)[1], Neuro-otology, Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Rhinology or head and neck oncology.

Head & 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
o BPPV - Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
o labyrinthitis/vestibular neuronitis
o Ménière's disease/Endolymphatic hydrops
o Perilymphatic fistula
o 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
o Laryngitis
o Reinke's Edema
o Vocal Cord Nodules & Polyps

* Spasmodic Dysphonia
* Tracheostomy
* Cancer of the Larynx
* Vocology - science and practice of voice habilitation

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. For further information see the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery [2]

* Rhinoplasty & Septoplasty
* Facelift (Rhytidectomy)
* Browlift
* Blepharoplasty
* Otoplasty
* Genioplasty
* Injectable Cosmetic Treatments
* Trauma to the Face
o Nasal Bone Fracture
o Mandible Fracture
o Orbital Fracture
o Frontal Sinus Fracture
o Complex Lacerations and Soft Tissue Damage

 

A head mirror is a simple diagnostic device, stereotypically worn by physicians.

A head mirror is (or was) mostly used for examination of the ear, nose & throat. It comprises a round, concave mirror, parabolic in cross section, with a small hole in the middle, and is attached to a head band. The mirror is worn over the physician's eye of choice, with the mirror facing outwards and the hole directly over the physician's eye.

In use, the patient sits and faces the physician. A bright lamp is positioned adjacent to the patient's head, pointing at the physician's face and hence towards the head mirror. The light from the lamp is reflected off the mirror, along the line of sight of the user, with the light being somewhat focused by the parabolic cross-section. When used properly, the head mirror thus provides excellent hands-free illumination, without any shadows.

Head mirrors have been considered a stereotypic part of a physician's uniform because they were once in common use, notably by general practitioners and otolaryngologists. The main drawback to head mirrors was that they took much experience to use well. They are currently in less use than before, as they have been largely replaced by pen lights among general practitioners, and by fibreoptic headlamps among otolaryngologists.