ABOHNS Otolaryngology key terms

A graph plotting hearing threshold in decibels against frequency in hertz for each ear by air and bone conduction, used to classify and quantify hearing loss.

The average of air-conduction thresholds at three or four standard frequencies, commonly 500, 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz, used to summarize overall hearing level.

The difference in decibels between air-conduction and bone-conduction thresholds at a given frequency, indicating a conductive component of hearing loss.

Low-intensity sounds produced by the active motility of outer hair cells and measurable in the ear canal, used to screen cochlear function and newborn hearing.

An electrophysiologic test recording neural responses to sound from the auditory nerve and brainstem, used to estimate hearing in infants and to evaluate retrocochlear pathology.

An objective measure of middle-ear compliance as pressure is varied in the sealed ear canal, used to detect effusion, perforation, and ossicular problems.

An expanding keratinizing squamous epithelial cyst within the temporal bone that erodes adjacent structures and requires surgical removal to prevent infection and complications.

Surgical removal of mastoid air cells, often combined with tympanoplasty, to eradicate chronic infection or cholesteatoma and to exteriorize diseased spaces.

Reconstruction of the tympanic membrane and, when needed, the ossicular chain to restore middle-ear sound conduction and provide a safe, dry ear.

A benign Schwann-cell tumor of the vestibular division of the eighth cranial nerve that causes unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and imbalance.

Hearing loss caused by dysfunction of the cochlea or auditory nerve, characterized by absence of an air-bone gap and often by reduced speech discrimination.

A peripheral vestibular disorder in which displaced otoconia within a semicircular canal produce brief positional vertigo, diagnosed by provocation testing and treated with repositioning maneuvers.

A standardized computed tomography staging system that grades opacification of each paranasal sinus and the ostiomeatal complex to quantify chronic rhinosinusitis severity.

The common drainage pathway of the frontal, anterior ethmoid, and maxillary sinuses into the middle meatus, obstruction of which predisposes to rhinosinusitis.

Minimally invasive surgery using an endoscope to open obstructed sinus drainage pathways and remove diseased tissue while preserving normal sinonasal mucosa.

Bilateral benign inflammatory outgrowths of sinonasal mucosa causing obstruction and anosmia, often associated with eosinophilic inflammation, asthma, and aspirin sensitivity.

Inflammation of the nose and paranasal sinuses persisting twelve weeks or longer with characteristic symptoms and endoscopic or radiologic evidence of mucosal disease.

Bleeding from the nasal cavity, most often from Kiesselbach plexus anteriorly or from branches of the sphenopalatine artery posteriorly, managed by packing, cautery, or ligation.

The terminal branch of the maxillary artery supplying most of the nasal cavity, a key target for ligation or embolization in severe posterior epistaxis.

Escape of cerebrospinal fluid through a skull-base defect into the nose or ear, confirmed by beta-2 transferrin testing and repaired to prevent meningitis.

Transnasal endoscopic approaches to remove anterior skull-base tumors and repair defects, often with vascularized nasoseptal flap reconstruction.

Office examination with a flexible fiberoptic or chip-tip endoscope passed transnasally to visualize the pharynx and larynx during respiration, phonation, and swallowing.

Stroboscopic illumination of the vocal folds during phonation that allows assessment of mucosal wave, vibratory symmetry, and glottic closure for voice disorders.

Any impairment of voice production affecting quality, pitch, or loudness, evaluated by history, laryngoscopy, and often acoustic and aerodynamic measures.

Loss of movement of one or both vocal folds from recurrent laryngeal nerve injury or other causes, producing hoarseness, aspiration, or airway compromise.

A branch of the vagus nerve that supplies most intrinsic laryngeal muscles; its injury during thyroid or neck surgery causes vocal fold paresis.

Recurrent human papillomavirus–related exophytic lesions of the larynx causing hoarseness and airway obstruction, treated by repeated surgical debulking.

Creation of a surgical opening in the anterior trachea to secure an airway, facilitate prolonged ventilation, or permit management of secretions.

Minimally invasive sampling of a neck mass or thyroid nodule with a thin needle for cytologic diagnosis, guided by palpation or ultrasound.

A standardized system describing primary tumor size and invasion, regional nodal involvement, and distant metastasis to guide prognosis and treatment.

Surgical removal of cervical lymph node levels, either comprehensive or selective, for staging and treatment of head and neck cancer metastases.

Identification and removal of the first draining lymph node using tracer mapping to assess occult nodal metastasis while avoiding unnecessary comprehensive dissection.

Transfer of vascularized tissue with microvascular anastomosis to reconstruct large head and neck defects after oncologic resection.

A vascularized pedicled flap based on the sphenopalatine artery used to reconstruct defects of the anterior skull base after endoscopic resection.

Surgical reshaping of the external ear, most commonly to correct prominent auricles by suturing or scoring auricular cartilage.

Surgical correction of a deviated nasal septum to relieve obstruction, performed through endonasal incisions with preservation of mucoperichondrium.

A supraglottic device placed over the laryngeal inlet to maintain ventilation without intubation, used in selected airway management scenarios.

Repetitive upper-airway collapse during sleep causing oxygen desaturation and arousals, diagnosed by polysomnography and graded by apnea-hypopnea index.

The number of apneas plus hypopneas per hour of sleep, used to classify obstructive sleep apnea severity and to guide treatment decisions.

Endoscopic evaluation of the upper airway under sedation to identify sites and patterns of collapse and to guide surgical planning for sleep apnea.

Delivery of pressurized air through a nasal or oronasal mask to splint the upper airway open, the first-line therapy for obstructive sleep apnea.

A discrete lesion within the thyroid gland, evaluated by ultrasound, thyroid function tests, and fine-needle aspiration to exclude malignancy.

A standardized reporting scheme for thyroid fine-needle aspiration cytology that assigns diagnostic categories with associated malignancy risk and management recommendations.

Removal of all or part of the thyroid gland for malignancy, compressive goiter, or hyperthyroidism, with attention to recurrent laryngeal nerve and parathyroid preservation.

Low serum calcium, a common complication after total thyroidectomy from parathyroid injury or devascularization, presenting with paresthesias and carpopedal spasm.

Overproduction of parathyroid hormone causing hypercalcemia, most often from a single adenoma, treated by focused parathyroidectomy.

Immunoglobulin E–mediated inflammation of the nasal mucosa triggered by inhaled allergens, causing sneezing, rhinorrhea, congestion, and itching.

A rapid in vivo allergy test in which allergen extracts are introduced into the epidermis to elicit a wheal-and-flare response indicating specific IgE sensitization.

Allergen extract administered under the tongue to induce immunologic tolerance, an alternative to subcutaneous immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis.

Acute viral laryngotracheitis in young children producing barking cough, hoarseness, and inspiratory stridor, usually managed with corticosteroids and supportive care.

Acute inflammation of the epiglottis and supraglottis that can rapidly obstruct the airway, now uncommon where Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccination is routine.

An abnormal harsh respiratory sound produced by turbulent airflow through a narrowed airway, whose timing in the respiratory cycle suggests the level of obstruction.

Surgical removal of the palatine tonsils, indicated for recurrent infection, obstructive sleep-disordered breathing, or suspected malignancy.

Removal of enlarged adenoid tissue to relieve nasopharyngeal obstruction, otitis media with effusion, or chronic nasal symptoms in children.

Persistent fluid in the middle ear without acute infection, causing conductive hearing loss in children and often managed with tympanostomy tubes.

Narrowing of the airway below the vocal folds, often from prolonged intubation, presenting with stridor and exertional dyspnea.