otorhinolaryngology

Otorhinolaryngology, also known as otolaryngology or ENT, is the medical specialty that focuses on disorders of the ear, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. The term is derived from the Greek roots oto, rhino, laryngo, and logy.

Practitioners diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions affecting hearing and balance, nasal obstruction and sinus disease, voice and swallowing disorders, sleep-related breathing problems, and the thyroid and salivary glands, as well as certain cancers of the head and neck. Pediatric ENT is a common area within the field.

Common disorders managed by otorhinolaryngologists include otitis media and other ear infections, conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, vertigo and tinnitus; rhinitis and chronic sinusitis; nasal obstruction and polyps; sore throat, tonsillitis, and sleep apnea; hoarseness and voice disorders; dysphagia; thyroid nodules and neck masses; and cancers of the larynx, thyroid, or salivary glands. Treatments range from medical therapies to surgical interventions, such as ear tube placement, tonsillectomy, sinus surgery, cochlear implantation, neck dissection, thyroidectomy, and endoscopic skull base procedures.

Training typically requires medical school followed by a residency in otorhinolaryngology, with opportunities for fellowships in areas such as otology/neuro-otology, rhinology, laryngology, pediatric ENT, head and neck oncology, and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Diagnostic methods include audiometry, tympanometry, nasal endoscopy, flexible laryngoscopy, imaging with CT or MRI, and various laboratory tests. Treatments combine medical management—antibiotics, antihistamines, nasal steroids, and acid suppression—with surgical options when indicated.

ENT care often involves a multidisciplinary team, including audiologists, speech-language pathologists, oncologists, allergists, radiologists, and anesthesiologists, to address airway, hearing, voice, and cancer care.