What’s An Otolaryngologist?

The field of otolaryngology has an image problem. Every 20 years or so, we keep changing our specialty name due to the rapidly changing nature of what we do. Technically, we are oto-rhino-laryngologists (ear, nose, throat). But the rhino part got dropped because it was too hard to pronounce. About 20 years ago, head and neck surgery was added, to describe the fact that we are surgeons as well. In fact, the vast majority of head and neck surgeon who deal the major head and neck cancer and reconstruction are otolaryngologists. The remainder are usually general surgeons who take a 1-2 year head and neck fellowship.

 

An otolaryngologist is a medical and surgical specialist of the ear, nose, throat, head, neck and related structures. Basically, we do everything above the collarbone except for the teeth, eyes and the brain. Because we are a regional specialty, we can offer comprehensive management of routine or complicated problems without referrals to multiple specialists. Unlike neurologists, cardiologists, or infectious disease doctors, who all deal with a single organ or body systems, otolaryngologists have to be knowledgeable about neurology, infectious disease, surgery, medicine, endocrinology, etc., etc.

 

Training involves nine or more years after college: four years of medical school, one year of general surgery internship, and four years of otolaryngology residency. Some go on to do one to three more years in subspecialty fellowship training, such as facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, neuro-otology, microvascular reconstructive surgery, head & neck surgery, pediatric ENT, laryngology, rhinology and sinus surgery, allergy, or sleep medicine.

 

Depending on the type of training experience, an otolaryngologist during residency will have performed anywhere from 1200 to 2500 procedures, mostly as the primary surgeon. Most are comfortable with most major surgical procedures such as ear microsurgery, rhinoplasty, facelifts, thyroidectomy, cancer operations and nasal and sinus procedures. Although most people and even most doctors think that ENTs (we don’t like that name) only do tonsils or ear tubes, little do they know that our field is a comprehensive, all-encompasing medical and surgical specialty that is growing even as we speak. Some otolaryngolgists spend their time doing 12 hour head and neck cancer and microvascular free flap operations, while others don’t do any surgery, and others even give allergy shots.

 

Did You Know ...

 

    Dr. William House (an ear surgeon) was the first surgeon to use binocular microscopy to perform an operation. Binocular microscopes are used routinely now by plastic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and ophthalmologists.

 

    The RAST blood test for allergies was developed by an otolaryngologist.

 

    Robert Barany, a Hungarian ear physician, received the Nobel prize in medicine in 1914 for his work on balance and the inner ear.

 

    

Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery

(212) 315-9058