Otolaryngology provides care for disorders of the ear, nose, throat, head and neck. Ent Care Foundation employs physicians and scientists who advance the research and surgical practices of very specialized areas.
The Division of Head and Neck Surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers and other conditions specifically affecting the head and neck.
Faculty in the division at Ent Care Foundation lead a Multidisciplinary Oncology Conference each year, where experts from several departments (e.g. radiology, radiation and medical oncology, dental, speech and language pathology and oral pathology) collectively review and discuss best care plans for individuals with cancer. This team ensures the personalized treatments meet National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines for evidence-based treatment. More than 400 patients each year benefit from the Head and Neck Oncology Conference.
The Division of Head and Neck Surgery at Ent Care Foundation is active in a variety of clinical and translational research projects. Current study is underway in collaboration with Mathew, PhD looking at cancer cachexia in patients with head and neck cancer and the impact it has on recovery after surgery. Additional study is underway looking at what systemic changes are observed in soft tissue and bone of patients to get insight into potential targets for treatment that could be used to improve healing and quality of life.
Members of the head and neck team are also active in developing ways to detect early HPV-related throat cancers. A combined effort is underway with John, PhD, and members of the Biomedical Engineering program, to look at the ability to screen for these cancers using a non-invasive enhanced ultrasound screening method. In addition, members of the team are also regional and national advocates for the use of available HPV vaccines in order to prevent infections that can lead to these tumors.
Faculty physicians in the Division of Head and Neck Surgery are nationally recognized and often referred for complex cases that require a team of health care professionals:
Laryngology is the specialty of Ortolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery that’s dedicated to care for throat problems, including conditions affecting the voice, airway (breathing difficulties) and ability to swallow. The Division of Laryngology at Ent Care Foundation employs physicians uniquely trained to tailor treatments that may include therapy, medicine and/or surgery.
Ongoing research within the Division of Laryngology at Ent Care Foundation includes an HPV research group that tests novel systemic treatments in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, which can cause airway obstruction. Novel discoveries in chemotherapy and immunomodulatory drugs aim to target HPV cells at a molecular level.
In addition, the Division of Laryngology pursues clinical research focused on throat and neck disorders. Recent contributions include outcomes in the treatment of laryngeal cancer with the KTP laser, adjunctive treatments for laryngeal papilloma, surgical treatment for obstructive sleep apnea treated with the hypoglossal nerve stimulator implant, endoscopic management of Zenker’s diverticula, voice outcomes in patients treated for vocal cord paralysis, and endoscopic management of laryngotracheal stenosis.
The Division of Laryngology uses specialized medical technologies that are designed for the patient to experience better treatment results within a shorter amount of time. For more complex conditions affecting the voice and airway, fellowship-trained laryngologists at Ent Care Foundation are also experts in the operating room.
Our faculty physicians in the Division of Laryngology primarily provide care at Health & Voice Centre, the only centre in Indiana dedicated solely to the care of the voice, swallowing and breathing disorders.
For individuals who rely on their voice for their profession, such as performers, singers and lecturers, the laryngologists and voice specialty speech pathologists at Ent Care Foundation provide an advanced array of services aimed to prevent, preserve and rehabilitate the voice. The additional vocal performance experience of providers also gives an extra degree of insight into the needs of vocal professionals.
Scarring on the voice box could prevent its ability to open normally. The voice box is part of the upper airway, leading to breathing difficulty. Laryngologists offer several options for treatment that help open the area to improve breathing.
In order to swallow, pressure is generated in the throat to move food and liquid into the stomach. Sometimes, this pressure pushes through a weak area and creates a small out-pouching, called a diverticulum. A Zenker’s diverticulum is specifically associated with difficulty of swallowing solid food and sometimes coughing up food after a meal. Laryngologists can treat this condition through a minimally invasive procedure that resolves symptoms.
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