Otolaryngology 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). A commonly used term for this specialty is ENT (ear, nose and throat). The term comes from the Greek ωτολαρυγγολογία (oto = genitive for ear, laryngo = genitive for larynx/throat, logy = study), and it literally means the study of ear and neck. The full term ωτορρινολαρυγγολογία (otorhinolaryngology), also includes rhino, which is the genitive of nose.

The Initial Visit

The initial visit at Lamorinda ENT, Face & Neck Surgery typically includes assessment and investigation of the medical and surgical treatment of a wide variety of ear, nose, throat, face and neck disorders.  These may include conditions due to presence of infection, inflammation, and structural or pathologic anomalies in the head and neck. A large percentage of the head & Neck conditions are dealt with at the Lamorinda ENT, Face & Neck Surgery.  However, appropriate referrals to major local and nationally recognized specialists are also arranged for those rare conditions which require further specialized care.

Disorders Treated

The Lamorinda ENT, Face & Neck Surgery concentrates on both the surgical and non-surgical treatment of a wide variety of Face and neck disorders, including:

• Infections and lesions of the tonsils and adenoids
• Cysts and ulcers of the mouth
• Taste disorders, tongue and palate function
• Evaluation of disease related to tobacco use
• Throat and swallowing disorders
• Hoarseness and intractable cough after ingesting solids or liquids
• Neck lesions, nodules and cysts
• Nose disorders including the evaluation and treatment of nasal congestion, obstruction, discharge, bleeding, smell disorders, deformity (cosmetic nasal surgery)
• Sinus disorders including the evaluation and treatment of polyps
• Computer Assisted Sinus Surgery (CASS)
• Balloon Sinuplasty
• Salivary gland disease, including infections, stones, salivary gland enlargement, salivary gland pain, nodules, lesions and inflammatory disorders of the salivary glands, such as Sjogren’s disease
• Thyroid disorders, including masses, nodules and enlarged thyroid (goiter)
• Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea

Emergency:

• Epistaxis (nose bleed)
• Hearing loss
• Injuries to the ears
• Injuries to the head and neck area
• Foreign bodies in ears, nose or throat
• Facial fractures
• Burns involving the nose ears and mouth
• Paralysis of the face
• Sinus disorders
• Dizziness
• Compromised upper airway
• Difficulty swallowing
• Lumps in the neck, throat