otorhinolaryngologie

Otorhinolaryngology, commonly abbreviated ENT and also known as otolaryngology, is a medical specialty that focuses on disorders of the ears, nose, throat and the related structures of the head and neck. Clinicians diagnose, treat and manage both medical and surgical conditions across the lifespan, from infancy to old age, often in multidisciplinary teams.

The field is divided into several subspecialties, including otology/neurotology (hearing loss, balance disorders, cochlear implantation), rhinology (nasal obstruction, sinus disease, smell disorders), laryngology (voice, swallowing and airway disorders), pediatric ENT, and head and neck surgery (including thyroid and salivary gland diseases, tumors of the head and neck, and skull base conditions).

Common diagnostic tools include audiometry and tympanometry for ear disorders, nasal endoscopy, laryngoscopy, imaging studies such as CT and MRI, and multidisciplinary testing. Treatments range from medical management—antibiotics, anti-inflammatory therapy, allergy management and rehabilitation—to surgical interventions such as tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, septoplasty and turbinate reduction, endoscopic sinus surgery, tympanoplasty, cochlear implantation, stapedectomy, voice and swallowing surgery, and tumor resections.

Training pathways require medical school followed by a residency in otorhinolaryngology, with optional fellowships in subspecialties. Certification and hospital credentials vary by country. ENT specialists work in hospitals, academic medical centers and private practice, and frequently collaborate with audiologists, speech-language pathologists, oncologists, radiologists and other specialists to provide comprehensive care.

Research in otorhinolaryngology covers hearing science, balance and vestibular disorders, upper airway biology, sleep-disordered breathing, sinonasal disease, ear rehabilitation, and head and neck cancer.