Mouth, Throat, and Neck

A sore throat can be a symptom of several different conditions, ranging from tonsil stones to strep throat to reflux. A thorough evaluation by an ENT is essential if you are experiencing prolonged and/or recurring sore throat symptoms.

Our voice is how we communicate with the world. Dysphonia, or voice disorders, can have a profound effect on our lives. There are many different conditions which can lead to dysphonia ranging from laryngitis to laryngeal cancers. Prolonged voice disturbance requires a thorough evaluation by an ENT, usually with an in-office procedure called flexible laryngoscopy.

The head and neck are complex parts of the human body with many important structures. Masses in this region can be congenital or acquired. If the mass has been present for longer than 2 weeks, we recommend a thorough evaluation by an ENT or other healthcare professional. Oftentimes, supplemental testing such as lab work or imaging is required for an accurate diagnosis. If surgical intervention is necessary, your ENT can help you navigate your options.

Dysphagia, or trouble swallowing, can be due to abnormalities at any point in the swallow mechanism, from the lips and tongue all the way to the esophagus and beyond. An ENT can help determine at which point in the process the problem lies. Additional testing can include flexible endoscopy in the office, imaging, videofluoroscopy, or other modalities.

Cancer is a devastating diagnosis that affects patients of all ages. The most common sites in the head and neck include the skin, mouth, throat, vocal cords, salivary glands, and thyroid gland. Treatment varies significantly depending on the site of the primary lesion. This may include surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy, depending on the location of the lesion, as well as extension to nearby structures. It is important to take into consideration that head and neck cancer and its treatments may compromise functions such as voice, speech, swallowing, breathing, and appearance. At ENT and Facial Plastic Surgery, we are committed to a multidisciplinary approach to the management of head and neck cancer, and we will always customize treatment plans such as to provide the best outcomes for our patients.

Removal of the tonsils can be performed for either recurrent tonsil infections, tonsil stones, or sleep apnea. There are several techniques for removing the tonsils, which your ENT can discuss with you in more detail. It is a safe procedure for patients of all ages.

There are a myriad of different surgical procedures to help with sleep apnea, all of which aim to remove potential obstructions to the upper airway during sleep. This includes septoplasty, tonsillectomy, and genioglossus advancement. Your ENT can discuss with you in more detail which procedure may be right for you.

Surgery on the vocal cords is primarily performed using a microscope or endoscope through the mouth. This can be performed to remove suspicious lesions, repair vocal cord paralysis, or address a narrow airway. All ENTs are specially trained to perform this type of airway surgery in a safe manner for patients of all ages, including children.

Masses in the parotid gland (large salivary glands on the sides of the face, just in front of the ears) are generally benign, but some can be malignant (cancerous). In general, these masses do not respond to medication, and must be removed surgically. However, the nerve that controls facial movement runs through this gland, and only ENTs are specially trained to perform this surgery in a safe manner while preserving facial function afterwards.

The prevalence of thyroid nodules is rising around the world, mostly due to increased imaging of the neck for other reasons. The majority of these nodules never require any treatment, but a small subset are suspicious enough to warrant needle biopsy. In cases where the results may indicate cancer, the standard protocol is to remove either a portion of the thyroid gland, or to remove the gland in entirety. ENTs receive extensive training to remove the thyroid gland safely, while preserving the nerves that control vocal cord movement, which run just underneath the gland.

Surgery to remove most cancerous lesions usually involves removing the mass in question, in addition to a small amount of the surrounding tissue to ensure clear margins. Oftentimes, healthy tissue from surrounding structures can be moved into the resulting defect from the cancer excision to help close the wound. Occasionally, tissue (skin, muscle, etc.) can be harvested from separate sites of the body as grafts to help fill the defect. If the cancer has spread to neighboring lymph nodes, those can be removed with a procedure called a neck dissection.

Dr. Dreyfuss is an experienced skin cancer specialist. He regularly performs complex removals and/or reconstructions of skin defects from cancer excision procedures performed by other surgeons/specialists. He is a member of the Inova Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center, and works closely with other specialists, such as dermatologists, radiologists, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists.