LAKESIDE ENT - ENT TERMS

Ears

Cholesteatoma—a cyst-like sac most commonly found in the middle ear; can enlarge and destroy nearby bones

Dizziness (see vertigo)

Ear infections (see otitis externa and otitis media)

Eustachian tube dysfunction—the tube that connects the ear to the throat is not working properly; blockage of the tube leads to ear infections or pressure.

Fullness in the ears--sense that the ears are plugged

Hearing loss—loss of hearing that can be caused by a variety of factors

Impacted cerumen—earwax that has accumulated in the ear canal and frequently needs to be removed by a professional

Labyrinthitis—inflammation of the passages of the inner ear (labyrinths), which can cause dizziness and vomiting

Mastoiditis—inflammation or infection of the mastoid bone, which is located behind the ear

Meniere’s disease—condition characterized by symptoms such as hearing loss, ringing in the ear, dizziness, and a sensation of fullness or pressure in the ears

Otalgia—earache (pain in the ear)

Otitis externa—inflammation or infection of the outside of the ear or ear canal

Otitis media—inflammation or infection of the middle ear

Otorrhea—drainage from the ear

Otosclerosis—a condition characterized by hardening of the bones in the ear, causing hearing loss

Ringing in the ears (see tinnitus)

Sudden hearing loss—hearing loss that occurs within a short period of time

Tinnitus—ringing, buzzing,humming, or clicking sound in the ears

Tympanic membrane perforation—a hole in the eardrum

Tympanosclerosis—scarring of the eardrum

Vertigo (dizziness)—sensation of moving around in space or of having objects move around the person

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Face

Bell’s palsy—paralysis of the face thought to be caused by a swelling of the facial nerve

Facial fracture—a broken bone in the face

Neuralgia—pain caused by inflammation or injury to a nerve

TMJ syndrome (Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome)—severe aching in the joint of the jaw, made worse by chewing

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Throat & Mouth

Adenoiditis—inflammation of the adenoids, the lymphatic tissue in the back wall of the nose

Aphthous stomatitis—canker sores

Dysphagia—difficulty swallowing

Epiglottitis—inflammation or infection of the epiglottis, the flap of cartilage behind the tongue

Gastroesophageal reflux (reflux esophagitis)—the return of stomach acid and contents back into the esophagus, often causing burning (heartburn)

Globus sensation—a feeling of a lump in the throat

Hoarseness—voice disturbance, voice change

Hypertrophy, tonsils with adenoids—enlargement of tonsil/adenoid area

Laryngitis—vocal cord inflammation, often causing hoarseness

Odynophagia—painful swallowing

Paralysis of the vocal cords—vocal cord(s) that do not move

Pharyngitis—inflammation of the throat

Peritonsillar abscess—infection in a pocket behind the tonsils

Stomatitis—inflammation in the mouth

Stridor—harsh sound produced when breathing

Tonsils—lymphatic tissue located on the sides of the throat

Tonsillitis—inflammation or infection of the tonsils

Uvula—fleshy structure that hangs down the back of the throat

Vocal cords—membranous folds stretched across the larynx, which produce sound by their vibrations as air passes between them.

Vocal cord polyps or nodules—growths on the vocal cords, which can cause changes in the voice.

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Chest

Asthma—condition characterized by difficult breathing, often with cough or wheezing, caused by tightening of the bronchial tubes and swelling of the linings of the airways

Bronchitis—inflammation of the mucous membrane (lining) of the bronchial tubes of the lungs, typically caused by infection or irritation of the lungs, which are the breathing passageways in the chest.

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)—chronic airway obstruction that results from emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, or a combination of these disorders

Cough—a protective reflex that occurs when an irritant stimulates one of the several cough receptors in the airway

Croup—childhood disease characterized by a barking cough and difficult breathing

Wheezing—whistling sounds that occur with difficult breathing due to swelling or blockage of the airways.

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Head & Neck

Lymphadenopathy—enlarged lymph nodes (glands)

Parotitis—inflammation of the parotid gland, the salivary gland situated in front of

Sialadentis—inflammation of a salivary gland, which produces saliva in the mouth

Sialolithiasis—presence of tiny, stone-like substances in the salivary gland

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Thyroid & Parathyroid

Goiter—enlargement of the thyroid gland, located in the front of the neck

Parathyroid glands—four small endocrine glands lying close to the posterior surface of the thyroid gland. Secretes the hormone, parathormone.

Thyroid and parathyroid diseases—any of several conditions that result when the thyroid or parathyroid glands produce too little or too much hormone.

Thyroid gland—ductless gland found on both sides of the trachea. Secretes thyroxine, which controls metabolism.

Thyroid nodule—a little knot of cells on the thyroid gland

Thyroiditis—inflammation of the thyroid gland

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Nose & Sinus

Allergic rhinitis—inflammation of the lining of the nose caused by allergies

Anosmia—loss of the sense of smell

Deviated nasal septum—a bend in the bony wall that divides the two sides of the nose

Epistaxis—bleeding from the nose

Hypertrophy of turbinates—enlargement of tissue located in the nose that often causes difficult nasal breathing

Nasal contusion—bruising of the nasal bone or linings

Nasal fracture—broken nose

Nasal polyp—small growth of inflammatory tissue found in the nose

Nose bleed (see epistaxis)

Sinusitis—Inflammation or infection of a sinus

Vestibulitis—inflammation or infection of the nose lining

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General Conditions

Foreign body—an object in an abnormal location, which can cause obstruction and infection

Inflammation—the reaction of tissue to an injury or insult, resulting in swelling of the offended area

Infection—occurs when the body, or portion of the body, is invaded by an organism such as bacteria or virus

Sleep apnea—a disorder characterized by the inability to breathe during sleep

Snoring—the noise produced while breathing through the mouth during sleep

Speech/Language disorder—problems with producing words or individual sounds

Tumors—benign or malignant masses

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Allergy

Allergic conjunctivitis—inflammation of the tissue lining of the eyelid due to exposure to allergens

Allergic hives (urticaria)—swollen red bumps or blotches that appear on the skin, often accompanied by intense itching

Allergy testing (serial endpoint titration method)—a series of needle pricks to determine which airborne allergens the individual is allergic to and the degree to which the individual is allergic to each one

Allergic rhinitis—inflammation of the nasal tissue, often due to sensitivity to an allergen

Anaphylaxis—a life-threatening allergic hypersensitive reaction of the body to a foreign protein or drug

Spirometry—measurement of breathing capacity with a spirometer

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