Articles

An acoustic neuroma is a benign tumor of the nerve that controls balance. It runs alongside the nerve that controls hearing. Tumors may arise where the nerve begins at the brainstem (cerebellopontine angle) or further along the nerve in the internal auditory canal, closer to the inner ear. Symptoms may

Acute sinusitis is an infection of the paranasal sinus cavities. The majority of infections are viral, and will resolve without treatment. Some infections are bacterial or will become bacterial over time (typically 7 - 10 days) and may require antibiotic treatment. Most bacterial infections are successfully

Allergic rhinitis is an inflammatory condition of the nose. The nasal lining reacts to allergens that are breathed into the nose, which may result in runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion and obstruction, itchy, watery eyes, and dark circles under the eyes (allergic shiners), among other symptoms. Treatment

Anosmia is the loss of the sense of smell. Anosmia may have many different causes. Viral infection, head trauma, surgery, allergies, chronic sinusitis, sinonasal polyps, benign, or malignant tumors may cause anosmia. Some patients have no identified cause. If no obvious cause is seen on exam, a CT or

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer and the most frequently occurring form of all cancers. It typically occurs on sun-exposed areas such as the scalp, face, nose, ears, neck, chest, shoulders, or back. It can present as a non-healing sore; a shiny or pearly bump; or even a pink,

Cholesteatomas may be congenital (you may be born with it) or acquired (may develop later in life). Cholesteatomas are essentially cysts formed from the tympanic membrane (ear drum). A pocket is formed in the eardrum, which traps the lining of the drum, allowing for continued growth and expansion of

Chronic sinusitis may either be an infection of the paranasal sinus cavities lasting more than 12 weeks, or chronic inflammation of the sinus lining, which may result in obstruction (blockage) of the normal sinus drainage. Treatment options include medical therapy and surgery. Medical treatment may include

Septal deviations can be congenital or acquired after trauma, surgical intervention, or other conditions. Deviation may cause obstruction of nasal breathing, increasing the likelihood of sinus infections and nasal drainage. Septal deviation may also contribute to curvature of the external nasal appearance.

Dysphagia refers to difficulty swallowing. Swallowing difficulty may arise from abnormalities in the mouth, throat, esophagus, or from neurologic or muscular disorders. Treatment initially is aimed at discerning a cause of the dysphagia and may require further testing via x-ray exams (barium swallow,

Ear pain can arise from problems of the ear such as infections, or can be caused by referred pain - pathology from elsewhere in the head and neck that causes pain in the ear without actually having any abnormalities of the ear. Other sources include diseases of the throat (tonsillitis, benign ulcers,

Epistaxis is bleeding from the nose. It most commonly occurs from the front of the septum, and may be aggravated by trauma or dry / cool environments. Bleeding may also occur from areas more posteriorly in the nose, and these sites usually result in more severe bleeding. Epistaxis may be treated with

Sensorineural hearing loss is defined as a loss of hearing caused by problems occurring in the inner ear and auditory (hearing) nerve. Causes may include aging, genetic-associated loss (hereditary), noise exposure or noise trauma, infections, congenital syndromes, inflammatory or auto-immune diseases,

Hoarseness may be defined as any change in vocal quality. Hoarseness may be described as breathy, coarse, gravelly, or weak, among many other descriptions. Hoarseness may be caused by diseases of the vocal fold - infection, inflammation, neoplasms (growths - may be benign or cancerous), neurologic, or

The parathyroid glands are four (sometimes five) tiny glands in the neck that regulate the level of calcium in the blood, helping to strike a balance between the calcium levels in the blood and in the bones. Primary hyperparathyroidism may occur when one or more of the glands becomes enlarged and produces

Reflux, Care: Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) describes acid which may flow from the stomach into the esophagus. GERD most often causes heartburn and burping, among a multitude of other symptoms. Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) refers to the flow of acid from the stomach, via the esophagus, into the

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer originating from the pigment-producing cells in the skin called melanocytes. Though not as common as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, it is more deadly because of its ability to spread to other parts of the body. Melanomas can have various appearances.