C/V ENT Surgical Group's Resources

One of the most common medical referrals is for patients to visit an Ears, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Specialist for long-term issues and disorders that appear in these areas of the body. In many cases, there are several ENT Specialist options from which to choose. Making this decision can be overwhelming, especially if you do not have experience with an ENT Specialist. When you make this decision for your loved ones, it is just as important. If your regular physician or pediatrician refers you to an ENT Specialist, there are some things to consider first.

About Your Salivary Glands

You have hundreds of salivary glands whose job it is to produce saliva which drains from ducts and moistens the inside of the mouth, helps protect against tooth decay, and helps you digest food. The three major salivary glands are:

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.

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. 

At some point in your life, you've likely experienced some dysphonia. Dysphonia, in its simplest terms, is a change in your voice, usually characterized as hoarseness. It's common to experience hoarseness when you have a cold or when you overwork your vocal cords. In these cases, the dysphonia will go away on its own in time.  

A diagnosis or even the suspicion of thyroid nodules can raise a lot of questions and concerns in people, and understandably so. There is a lot to know about thyroid nodules, and familiarizing yourself with the statistics, symptoms, and treatment options can help you feel much more at ease as you move forward. You may be surprised to know that nearly half of humanity develops at least one thyroid nodule by the time they reach their 60's. Needless to say, if your last medical exam has revealed a nodule on your thyroid, you are not alone, and it is not necessarily a reason to be anxious or upset.

As a parent, one of your main endeavors in life is keeping your child healthy and happy. But what if your child is suffering from frequent ear infections or sore throats? What if they seem to have difficulty hearing? Are those kinds of ailments just a part of childhood that will resolve as the child gets older, or should you seek medical intervention? What if your pediatrician refers you to an ENT specialist? Why is a specialist required rather than simply seeking treatment from your pediatrician? Read on for more helpful information.

You woke up this morning with a sore throat and a fever. It's difficult to swallow and the lymph nodes in your neck feel swollen. Is this tonsillitis? What caused it? Is there an effective treatment that can make you feel better fast or are you going to have to just wait out the sickness? How long does tonsillitis last?