Head & Neck Conditions

Swellings or Lumps in the neck

A medical opinion should be sought for new lumps in the neck. In most cases the swelling are benign, but a thorough history and examination is needed to rule out cancer. The examination often includes endoscopic examination of the lining of the nose and throat.

Foreign Body Sensation (Globus Sensation)

The feeling of something in the throat is a common symptom which is often easily diagnosed and treated. It is usually harmless, but further investigation may be warranty to rule out a cancer.  The examination will include endoscopic examination of the lining of the nose and throat.

Hoarseness/Voice Change (Dysphonia)

Change in voice can occur naturally with ageing, but change in voice persisting over 6 weeks should be investigated. The causes of voice change are varied and most likely benign and diagnosis is usually made with endoscopic visualisation of the vocal cords.

Swallowing Difficulty (Dysphagia)

Difficulty in swallowing, such as obstruction and/or regurgitation of food needs urgent investigation. Causes of swallowing difficulty are diverse and most likely benign, but more serious problems including throat or oesophageal cancer need excluding.

Sore Throat/Tonsillitis

Inflammation of the tonsils often occurs as a result of bacterial or viral infection. Frequent episodes are debilitating and can cause prolonged absence from school or work. Removal of the tonsils (tonsillectomy) can help reduce the frequency and severity of sore throats. A persistent sore throat that extends beyond 4 weeks requires urgent investigation to rule out cancer.

Thyroid Disease

Changes in the function of your thyroid function should result in an endocrine review. If any enlargement or lumps associated with the thyroid gland are noted, then assessment with a thyroid surgeon should be sought to rule out cancer. Lumps within the thyroid gland are referred to as nodules and require investigation with ultrasound and possibly biopsy. Enlargement of the thyroid gland in referred to as a goitre, if the enlargement of the thyroid is secondary to several nodules then it is referred to as a multinodular goitre.

Parotid and Submandibular Salivary Gland Disease

There are glands in the cheeks and underneath the jaw bone which produce saliva. Lumps associated with these glands, whilst predominantly benign, require investigation to rule out malignancy. Sudden swelling of these glands can be secondary to small stones causing an outflow obstruction of saliva and subsequent infection, these stones often require removal.

Facial Skin Cancers

Due to increased sun exposure, relative to the rest of the body, most skin cancers occur in the head and neck region. Any new lesion of the skin should be assessed by a doctor and biopsy performed if clinical concern of a skin cancer. Surgical excision and reconstruction is predominantly the recommended treatment for skin cancer.

Ear Conditions

Dizziness and Vertigo

There are many causes of dizziness and several are related to the inner ear. Common causes which can be treated include benign paroxymal positional vertigo (BPPV), labyrinthitis/vestibular neuronitis and vestibular migraine. 

Ear infections

Infection can either affect the ear canal (otitis externa) or behind the ear drum (otitis media). Otitis externa is normally treated with antibiotics, but occasionally microsuction of debris from the canal is required to help resolve the infection.

Otitis media is more common in children but is not unusual in adults.  Usually this infection occurs with a cold, but occasionally a hole in the ear drum will lead to recurrent ear infections. In these cases closure of the hole in the ear drum (myringoplasty) can be performed.

Ear Wax

Cerumen is produced by glands in the ear canal and has antimicrobial and antifungal properties. It is normal, but occasionally can cause obstruction of the ear canal leading to hearing loss, a blocked sensation or trap water leading to infection. Some people over produce ear wax and benefit from micro suction of the wax on a regular basis.

Glue Ear

Glue ear is a accumulation of viscous fluid in the middle ear (behind the ear drum). It causes hearing loss and is transient in most children (it can also occur in adults, usually related to a cold). Occasionally this fluid will persist and the associated hearing loss can delay development and make communication more difficult. In these cases either hearing aids or placement of ‘grommets’ is advised.