Introduction Epistaxis is a common medical problem; however, the exact prevalence of this condition is unknown because patients themselves manage many cases conservatively. It is believed the prevalence may be as high as 30% in children younger than 5 years…
Introduction Most episodes of epistaxis are minor and self-limited and originate in the anterior nasal cavity. Posterior epistaxis, however, can be life threatening and is usually associated with bleeding from branches of the sphenopalatine artery (SPA). Rarely, the ethmoidal arteries…
Introduction Surgical therapy for the inferior or middle turbinates is most commonly indicated in the setting of turbinate hypertrophy and chronic nasal obstruction that has failed to improve with medical therapy. Surgery of the turbinate may be an isolated stand-alone…
Introduction The nasal septum plays an important role in the structural and physiologic functions of the nose, contributing to nasal shape, appearance, and laminar airflow. The septum is made up of three distinct layers. Superficially, the mucosa is made up…
Introduction The most common structural cause of persistent nasal obstruction unresponsive to nasal decongestants or medical therapy is a deformity of the nasal septum. Septal deformities may be cartilaginous, bony, or both, with tilts to the septum, curves, spurs, twists,…
Introduction Nasal endoscopy is integral to the physical examination of patients with sinonasal symptoms seeking management from the otolaryngologist. With proper local decongestion and anesthesia, it is possible to obtain excellent visualization of the nasal mucosal lining, middle meatus, inferior…
Introduction The most common indication for surgery of the parotid gland is the presence of a mass or tumor. The majority of distinct parotid masses are neoplasms with benign tumors predominating. Pleomorphic adenoma (mixed tumor) and Warthin tumor (papillary cystadenoma…
Introduction Tumor resection is the most common indication for superficial parotidectomy. Approximately 85% of parotid neoplasms are benign. Malignant tumors vary greatly in behavior, from the indolent (acinic cell carcinoma) to the highly lethal (carcinosarcoma). A recent surveillance epidemiology and…
Introduction The submandibular gland is one of three paired major salivary glands that drains into the oral cavity. It is midway in size and location between the largest, the parotid gland, and the smallest, the sublingual gland. Histologically, it consists…
Introduction A mass appearing within the substance of the cheek is unusual and suggests a tumor of the buccal space or the accessory lobe of the parotid gland. The buccal space, first described by Kostrubala in 1945, is a potential…