DO-HNS (RCSI) study guide
DO-HNS (RCSI) · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The DO-HNS (Diploma in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery) is a postgraduate diploma examination administered by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), one of Ireland's oldest medical institutions, based at 123 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2. It is intended for doctors building a career in otolaryngology who want a formal, examined credential in the specialty, typically those in or approaching higher surgical training who need to demonstrate a structured, broad-based knowledge of ear, nose, throat, head and neck practice. The DO-HNS (RCSI) study guide has 5 sections and about 1,411 words.
01Otology and Neuro-otology
Master the tono-tympanometric picture of middle-ear disease: a type B flat tympanogram with normal canal volume suggests effusion, while a large canal volume with a type B trace suggests perforation or a patent grommet. Know the Weber/Rinne logic cold: sensorineural loss lateralises to the better ear on Weber; conductive loss to the affected ear, with bone air on Rinne.
292 words, about 1 min02Rhinology and Facial Plastics
Build your framework around sinus drainage pathways and the ostiomeatal complex - the maxillary, anterior ethmoid and frontal sinuses drain into the middle meatus; the posterior ethmoid and sphenoid drain into the superior meatus. Understand the Lund-Mackay scoring for CT staging and the EPOS classification of chronic rhinosinusitis (with/without polyps).
272 words, about 1 min03Head and Neck Surgery
Work from anatomical levels of the neck (I–VI) and the lymphatic drainage of each subsite: oral cavity to levels I–III, oropharynx to II–IV, nasopharynx to retropharyngeal and V, thyroid to VI. Know the AJCC TNM principles - particularly that extranodal extension upstages to N3b and that HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer has a separate staging system.
279 words, about 1 min04Paediatric Otolaryngology
Understand airway development and the paediatric airway's unique features: large occiput, anterior larynx, floppy epiglottis, narrowest point at the cricoid (until ~8–10 years). Distinguish laryngomalacia (inspiratory stridor, worse supine/feeding, resolves by 12–18 months) from tracheomalacia (expiratory, barking) and subglottic stenosis (biphasic, persistent).
265 words, about 1 min05Basic Sciences Relevant to Otolaryngology
Consolidate embryology of the branchial apparatus : arches (1–6), pouches (pharyngeal pouches 1–4), and clefts, with their adult derivatives - first arch (mandible, malleus/incus), second arch (stapes, styloid), third pouch (thymus/inferior parathyroid), fourth pouch (superior parathyroid/ultimobranchial body). Know the pharyngeal apparatus anomalies : branchial cyst (2nd cleft), thyroglossal duct cyst (midline, moves with tongue protrusion), and preauricular pit (1st arch).
303 words, about 2 min