C/V ENT Surgical Group's Resources

What are Lymph Nodes?

The lymphatic system is a network of tissues/glands, organs, and channels throughout the body. This system transports lymph, a clear fluid containing lymphocytes, white blood cells that are one of the body’s main types of immune cells that help your body fight infection and illness. There are hundreds of lymph nodes in the body, many of which are in the neck, whose function is to filter the lymph. The lymph nodes stop bacteria, viruses, and diseased cells from passing the nodes and continuing throughout the body via the lymph vessels.

If you experience a mass, a lump, or swelling in your neck, there may be a number of different causes. The neck is a complex part of your body that includes many muscles, tissues, and organs. A mass in the neck may be caused by problems in the:

A mass in the neck can represent a variety of causes and developing one can be scary. It is important to seek medical care to help reach a diagnosis.

At C/V ENT Surgical Group, our main goals when assessing a lump or nodule in the neck is to rule out cancer as a possibility and whether the nodule needs to be removed surgically or just monitored for changes in size. Functional evaluation of the thyroid gland is also done by sending for lab work, however if they are found, then our ENT specialists will refer you to an endocrinologist to manage those hormonal issues.  We use many different tests to achieve these goals.

Many patients worry when they hear they have thyroid nodules. The good news is that they are usually not cancerous or require surgery. Usually doesn’t mean never, though. This is why it’s important for you to know when there is something to worry about with your thyroid nodules.

Patients never want to hear they have cancer, but early diagnosis is essential for successful cancer treatment. If you’ve been suffering from issues having to do with your ears, nose, and throat, it’s a good idea to consider if cancer could be causing them. The following symptoms and signs of head and neck cancer will help you decide if it’s time to reach out to C/V ENT Surgical Group in West Hills, Encino or Westlake Village.

Otolaryngologists are doctors who specialize in otolaryngology, or the diagnosis, treatment, and management of a number of diseases and disorders of the head and neck. Because conditions of the ear, nose, and throat are so common among these disorders, we often call them ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists.

Most people don’t want to have to choose between form and function when it comes to their nose. Both plastic surgeons and ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists can treat/repair broken noses!  So how do you pick who is best at addressing your broken nose and not only restoring form to your nose but also proper functioning (i.e. breathing and sinus drainage)?

Blocked sinuses can be a problem, especially when they seem to be blocked all of the time. When other treatments have been ineffective, many ENT doctors will discuss the possibility of balloon sinuplasty. This procedure is relatively straightforward for those with chronic sinusitis, which is why many people choose it.

Did you know that your voice is entirely unique to you, just like a fingerprint? Not only are the shape and size of each individual’s vocal cords different, but the vocal tract and the size and shape of the rest of your body, the position of your tongue, your bone structure, and your habits in how you form sounds are all individual factors that combine to produce your perfectly unique voice. Because the production of the human voice is such an intricate process, there are a number of things that can lead to losing your voice.