ENT contitions

Otosclerosis is bony overgrowth fixing the stapes footplate, causing progressive conductive hearing loss up to 60 dB with tinnitus. Management is hearing aids or surgery – stapedectomy, middle ear implant or cochlear implantation – by an ENT specialist.

Peritonsillar abscess (quinsy) is a localized collection of pus between the capsule of the palatine tonsil and the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle. It is the most common deep infection of the head and neck and usually develops as a complication of acute bacterial tonsillitis or peritonsillar cellulitis.

Speech disorders are conditions that impair a person's ability to produce speech sounds correctly, fluently, or clearly enough to communicate effectively. These disorders may affect speech production, articulation, fluency, voice, or motor planning and include conditions such as stuttering, apraxia of speech, dysarthria, and aphasia. Speech disorders may occur in children or adults and can significantly affect communication, education, employment, and quality of life.

Metastatic lymphadenopathy refers to the spread of malignant cells from a primary tumour to regional lymph nodes. The cervical lymph nodes are the most common site of regional metastasis for cancers arising in the head and neck, including malignancies of the oral cavity, nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, thyroid, salivary glands, and sinonasal tract. Primary lymphoma involving cervical lymph nodes should also be considered in the differential diagnosis of any persistent neck mass.

Peripheral vertigo includes Ménière's disease (vertigo, tinnitus, aural fullness and hearing loss) and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (brief positional vertigo). BPPV is treated with the Epley or Barbecue manoeuvre and vestibular rehabilitation; Ménière's with betahistine and intratympanic dexamethasone.