Disorders of the ear, nose, and throat are part of the medical field of otolaryngology, or ENT, a specialty that also encompasses related structures of the head and neck.
Tampa General Hospital is proud to have nationally renowned physicians trained in the medical and surgical treatment of otolaryngological disorders on our staff. Our national prominence in this field was recognized in 2008 by U.S. News & World Report, which identified Tampa General as one of the nation’s top 50 hospitals for ear, nose, and throat care for the second consecutive year.
Tampa General's free PhysicianFinder Referral Service can help you locate a physician specializing in ENT treatment. PhysicianFinder can also be contacted at 1-800-822-DOCS.
Tampa General provides a complete spectrum of diagnostic and treatment services for hearing impairments, tumors and cysts, infections, and balance and dizziness problems affecting both adults and children.
We are proud to be the regional leader in cochlear implants. This surgery has enabled hundreds of people in the Tampa Bay area who are deaf or severely hard of hearing to regain a sense of sound so that speech is understandable.
A cochlear implant is a surgically delivered device that works by stimulating the auditory nerve within the cochlea, or inner ear, with electrical impulses. More than 700 surgeries have been performed at Tampa General Hospital since 1986, making us the busiest cochlear implant center in the region.
Acoustic Neuroma – A non-cancerous growth that begins in the nerve that carries hearing and balance sensation from the ear to the brain. This slow-growing tumor eventually fills the ear canal and, if untreated, can cause life-threatening damage to the brainstem. The optimal treatment is surgical removal of the tumor.
Cholesteatoma – A cholesteatoma is an abnormal cyst or pouch in the middle ear, usually caused by repeated infections. Over time, a cholesteatoma can cause deafness and even life-threatening complications. Treatment involves surgery to remove the cyst and infection, followed six to 12 months later by another operation to check for any residual cholesteatoma, to reconstruct the middle ear, and to restore hearing, if possible.
Mastoiditis – Infection of the mastoid bone, a honeycomb-type structure that is part of the skull behind the ear. Unchecked, mastoiditis can lead to deafness and life-threatening complications. The first line of defense is antibiotics, but mastoidectomy may be required to clean out the infection and, if necessary, tympanoplasty to repair a damaged eardrum.
Meniere’s Disease – A disorder of the inner ear characterized by dizziness, hearing loss, and ringing or noises in the ear. It is caused by an imbalance of fluid in the inner ear and is thought to be an immune or inflammatory response. The condition is usually treated with medication, but when medicine doesn’t work, an option can be surgery to relieve pressure in the ear, remove a faulty balance organ (the labyrinth), or partially or completely remove a balance and/or hearing nerve.
Chronic Otitis Media – An ongoing infection or inflammation of the middle ear, usually affecting children. A persistent condition can lead to hearing loss and other serious complications. Treatment includes surgery, called a typanoplasty, to repair the eardrum and hearing bones. This procedure is sometimes combined with mastoidectomy to remove the diseased tissue. Another procedure, a tympanostomy or myringotomy, involves inserting a small metal or plastic tube in the affected ear to ventilate it and prevent buildup of pressure and fluid.
Otosclerosis – A condition characterized by abnormal bone growth in the middle ear, which limits the transmission of sound vibrations through the ear. Left untreated, this condition can lead to total deafness. The surgical option is a stapedectomy, in which the stapes, a spongy bone in the middle ear, is replaced with a prosthesis that transmits sound waves to the inner ear.
Tampa General provides a broad spectrum of diagnostic and treatment services for nasal and sinus conditions as well as breathing-related sleep disorders in adults and children. We treat the following conditions:
Nasal Obstructions – Obstructions in the nose can be caused by anatomic deformities such as deviated septum, enlarged nasal bones, polyps, enlarged adenoids, or foreign bodies in the nose. These conditions can be addressed by surgery to correct or remove the blockage.
Chronic Sinusitis – Sinusitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes in the sinuses, the air-filled passages around the nose and throat. It can be caused by infection, allergies, or anatomical problems such as deviated septum. In chronic sinusitis, the condition lasts longer than 12 weeks or reoccurs often. Medication is usually the first line of treatment. But when medications don’t help, a good option is endoscopic sinus surgery, a minimally invasive procedure, usually conducted through the nostrils, to enlarge the openings that drain the sinuses.
Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Snoring – Tampa General provides diagnosis and treatment for sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing stops or gets very shallow during sleep, and obstructive sleep apnea, a form of sleep apnea caused by an obstruction of the upper airway by weak or malformed tissues in the pharynx, the part of the throat that runs behind the nose.
Tampa General’s Sleep Disorders Center provides evaluation and follow-up care for children and adults with sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, and a variety of other sleep-related disorders. Click here for detailed information about the Sleep Disorders Center.
Treatment includes CPAP/BIPAP devices that increase air pressure in the throat to prevent the airway from collapsing during sleep. Another option is somnoplasty, a procedure that uses radiofrequency energy to reduce obstructive tissue in the nose.
Benign and Malignant Tumors of the Nose and Sinuses – Tampa General provides comprehensive diagnostic services for nasal and sinus tumors, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET), for evaluation of tumors. We also provide a range of medical and surgical treatment options.
Tampa General provides a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food and liquid from the mouth to the stomach, in adults and children. Tampa General treats the following disorders:
Achalasia – A swallowing disorder in which the esophagus fails to effectively move food down to the stomach. The condition also involves a tightening of the lower esophageal sphincter, a circular band of muscle between the esophagus and stomach. When this occurs, food cannot pass into the stomach, and food and saliva accumulate in the esophagus. Drug therapy is one option, but the medications often carry unpleasant side effects, are ineffective, or are not appropriate for some patients.
Procedures to address achalasia include:
Balloon dilation– A minimally invasive procedure in which a deflated balloon is guided through the esophagus and into the lower esophageal sphincter. Then the balloon is dilated to stretch the sphincter.
Myotomy – A surgery to cut the sphincter’s muscle fibers. The surgery is performed laparoscopically, using a thin, lighted tube called a laparoscope that’s guided to the surgical site through a small incision.
Barrett’s Esophagus – A condition that occurs when normal cells lining the esophagus are replaced by other cell types, usually the result of damage. The most common cause is acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In GERD, the lower esophageal sphincter, a circular band of muscle between the esophagus and stomach, becomes weakened and allows stomach acids to rise into the esophagus. Barrett’s esophagus can sometimes lead to cancer.
Esophageal Stricture – A gradual narrowing of the esophagus brought on by a buildup of scar tissue. The causes can be disease, injury, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Over time, the esophagus becomes stiff and narrow, and swallowing becomes difficult. The condition can be treated with medication or balloon dilation.
Esophageal Cancer -- Tampa General provides comprehensive diagnostic services for cancer of the esophagus, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET), for evaluation of tumors. We also provide a range of medical and surgical treatment options.
Speech and Swallowing Disorders – Our team of speech/language pathologists are available on an inpatient and outpatient basis to evaluate and rehabilitate patients with speech and swallowing disorders due to stroke, trauma, and other neurological conditions. Click here for more information about Tampa General Hospital Rehabilitation Center.
Since many esophageal conditions have similar symptoms, it’s important to accurately identify the specific disorder before treatment. The following are diagnostic tests used to correctly diagnose specific disorders:
24-48 hour Ph Testing – A test to determine the frequency and amount of acid refluxing into a patient’s esophagus. A small capsule is attached to the patient’s esophagus. Over the next 24 to 48 hours, the capsule measures acid levels in the esophagus, transmitting the data to a small external receiver that can be worn on the belt like a pager. When the test period ends, the patient returns the receiver to the physician. Within a few days, the capsule detaches from the esophagus and is eliminated from the body through the digestive tract.
Barium Swallow Test – A test to study the motion of the esophagus during swallowing. The patient swallows a thick, chalky barium mixture while a series of x-rays are taken. The barium shows the outline of the esophagus and lower esophageal sphincter.
Upper Endoscopy – A procedure that allows a physician to see the interior of the esophagus, stomach, and upper part of the intestines. It is accomplished by inserting a thin, flexible lighted tube with a set of lenses that transmit the image for the physician to examine.
Manometry – A test to record the muscle pressure in the esophagus in order to assess the esophagus’s ability to propel food and liquid from the mouth to the stomach. A thin tube is passed into the esophagus and takes measurements as the patient swallows.
Tampa General provides a complete spectrum of diagnostic and treatment services for head and neck disorders, including tumors and cysts, infections, trauma, and deformities in both adults and children.
Tampa General is proud to be the nation's leading hospital in minimally invasive radioguided parathyroid surgery.
Four tiny structures located in the neck behind the thyroid, the parathyroid glands control our bodies' calcium levels, which in turn regulate the body's electrical systems and maintain bone density. A tumor in one of the glands can play havoc with the body's calcium levels. The only cure is to remove the errant gland.
Unlike standard parathyroid surgery, minimally invasive radioguided parathyroid surgery is an outpatient procedure that takes about 15 minutes and requires only a one-inch incision. Patients go home that same day.
Tampa General treats the following disorders of the head and neck:
Facial Nerve Neuroma -- A non-malignant tumor of the facial nerve that can cause paralysis or weakness of the facial muscles. Treatment involves removing the tumor and, when necessary, reconstructing the facial nerve, usually by grafting a skin sensation nerve from the neck.
Head and Neck Cancers and Benign Masses -- Tampa General provides comprehensive diagnostic services for head and neck tumors, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET), for evaluation of tumors. We also provide a range of medical and surgical treatment options.
Thyroid Disease/Surgery -- The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that secretes a hormone that regulates the rate your body uses energy from food. This process can be disrupted by an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), enlarged thyroid (goiter), inflammation of the thyroid (thyroiditis), nodules, or tumors. The optimal treatment for thyroid disease is removal of part or all of the thyroid, typically through a small incision in the neck.
Skull Base Surgery -- Skull base surgery is performed to treat brain, spine, and peripheral nerve disorders, including brain aneurysms, brain and spinal cord tumors, vascular malformations, cranial bleeding, and complex spinal disorders in both adults and children.
Transphenoidal Pituitary Resections. A surgery in which physicians go through a patient’s nostril to remove a tumor on the pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain behind the nose.
Neurosurgical Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia. A surgery to relieve the agonizing facial pain of trigeminal neuralgia by relieving pressure on the trigeminal nerve or reducing nerve sensitivity.
