C/V ENT Surgical Group's Resources

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?

Swollen lymph nodes are a painful symptom that can come from multiple causes. Generally, if you have swollen lymph nodes (known as lymphadenitis) they are a result of bacterial or viral infection. In many cases, they will return to normal when you get over the infection. However, in some cases they may become more of a problem. You should see a doctor if you have swollen lymph nodes that appear to have no cause, keep growing, have been swollen for two or more weeks, feel hard or rubbery, or are accompanied by persistent fever or unexplained weight loss. Lymph nodes in the neck can cause a problem as they can interfere with swallowing or breathing. Because of this, you may need to seek treatment immediately, which may involve draining the affected node or, more rarely, surgery. More rarely, certain cancers, such as thyroid cancer and throat cancer can cause lymph nodes to become swollen.

Most of us swallow hundreds of times each day without much thought, relying on numerous mechanisms to move foods and liquids from our mouths to our digestive system. We often consider swallowing an automatic function. When the processes involved work in harmony, swallowing is effortless.  

One of the most common childhood illnesses that every pediatrician and parent should recognize almost immediately is that of a ear infection. It is so common in fact that according to the National Institutes of Health, by the time they reach their 3'rd birthday, 5 out of 6 children will have experienced this very painful condition. Although it occurs mostly in childhood, it can actually affect adults as well. But what exactly causes an ear infection and when is it considered a chronic ear infection? 

Ear infections are one of the most common causes of ear pain. While minor ear infections may resolve on their own, only your physician can determine the best course of treatment. Your doctor may want to prescribe an antibiotic to help clear the infection and reduce the risk of complications. If not effectively treated, ear infections can lead to permanent hearing loss, eardrum perforations, or spread to surrounding tissues.