The Pediatric Otolaryngology Center is dedicated to providing comprehensive care for the entire gamut of ear, nose, and throat disorders in children. This includes the treatment of airway disorders, tonsil and adenoid disease, chronic ear and mastoid disease, paranasal sinus disease, and head and neck masses. Pediatric patients are afforded the same access to our excellent nurses, audiologists, speech pathologists, radiology technicians, and balance care specialists as our adult patients, as well as the benefit of evaluation and treatment by a board-certified, fellowship-trained pediatric otolaryngologist.

Airway Disorders   ^top

The airway is comprised of the pathway from the nose to the lungs, and disease can affect any point along this pathway. Most diseases of the airway are manifested by noisy or obstructed breathing, which can be caused by nasal masses, narrowing of the back of the nostrils, otherwise known as choanal atresia, large adenoids and tonsils, floppiness of the larynx and trachea, otherwise known as laryngotracheomalacia, masses or paralysis of the vocal cords, and narrowing of the airway below the larynx, otherwise known as subglottic stenosis. Evaluation in the office usually includes flexible fiberoptic examination of the airway from the nostrils to the larynx, and treatment includes endoscopic procedures and open neck surgery performed in the operating room.

Tonsil & Adenoid Disease   ^top

Millions of children are evaluated yearly for large tonsils and adenoids, which can cause problems ranging from obstructive sleep apnea to recurrent throat infections and even ear infections. Symptoms usually include snoring and loud breathing, open-mouthed breathing, restless sleep, and pauses in breathing during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea can lead to daytime sleepiness and crankiness, or may paradoxically lead to hyperactivity; in fact many children diagnosed with behavioral disorders such as attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, may actually have obstructive sleep apnea! Treatment includes tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, which is usually performed on an outpatient basis at our surgery center.

Chronic Ear & Mastoid Disease   ^top

Ear infections represent the #1 reason for children to visit the doctor’s office, but chronic ear and mastoid disease goes far beyond the typical ear infection and requires the expertise of a pediatric otolaryngologist. Recurrent and chronic ear infections are usually treated by tympanostomy tube placement alone, but chronic draining ears and hearing loss require evaluation by audiometry and CT scan and, in many cases, surgery of the middle ear and mastoid cavity to remove the disease process and to reconstruct the hearing mechanism.

Paranasal Sinus Disease   ^top

Pediatric sinus disease is a different entity than adult sinus disease and is most often multifactorial in nature. Allergic rhinitis, immunodeficiency, and gastroesophageal reflux disease all affect the sinuses, and treatment of chronic and recurrent sinusitis in children often involves treatment of these other diseases. However, many children will go on to require endoscopic sinus surgery, and the Pediatric Otolaryngology Center provides expertise in such surgery. Endoscopic sinus surgery is usually an outpatient procedure that is performed through the nose and does not involve external incisions and scars. The latest in endoscopic and radiologic technology allows for precise surgery in the anatomically complex part of the body, and the most up-to-date medical information is utilized in achieving optimal results in treating this challenging problem in children.

Head & Neck Masses   ^top

Lumps and bumps in the head and neck can represent anything from benign masses and fluid-filled cysts to cancerous growths – even in children. Whenever a mass in the head or neck is detected in a child, either at home by a parent or at the doctor’s office, it should be evaluated promptly by a pediatric otolaryngologist, who will determine the proper course of diagnosis and treatment. Our in-house CT scanner and ultrasound machine allow for expeditious evaluation of a head or neck mass, and our expertise in the surgical excision of such masses allows for prompt treatment and cure.
 

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