Throat
Throat Conditions
ENTCare SWFL evaluates and treats a wide range of throat, swallowing, voice, sleep and airway conditions using in-office examination and advanced diagnostic procedures.
Tonsils, Swallowing & Voice
Common Throat Concerns
Persistent throat symptoms can have several possible causes, and evaluation helps identify what is contributing.
Tonsillitis & Adenoiditis
Tonsillitis and adenoiditis are inflammation or infection of the tonsils and adenoids and can contribute to recurrent sore throat, difficulty swallowing, nasal obstruction and sleep problems. ENTCare SWFL offers surgical consultation for pediatric and adult tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy when appropriate.
Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia)
Dysphagia refers to difficulty swallowing food, liquids or saliva. It can result from problems involving the throat, esophagus, muscles, nerves or structural abnormalities. ENTCare SWFL offers swallowing evaluation with in-office flexible laryngoscopy to assess the throat and upper airway for abnormalities including masses, foreign bodies and other structural concerns. Same-day laryngoscopy may be available when clinically appropriate.
Voice & Vocal Cord Disorders
Voice and vocal cord disorders can cause hoarseness, weakness, loss of voice or changes in vocal quality. Causes may include inflammation, vocal cord nodules, trauma, nerve dysfunction and other laryngeal conditions. ENTCare SWFL offers hoarseness evaluation with in-office flexible laryngoscopy to evaluate the vocal cords and surrounding structures. Evaluation may identify conditions including vocal cord nodules, trauma, vocal cord paralysis and suspicious throat or laryngeal lesions. The in-office procedure suite allows patients and family members to view the examination in real time with HD imaging.
Chronic Sore Throat (Pharyngitis)
Chronic pharyngitis is persistent or recurrent irritation and soreness of the throat. Potential contributors can include infection, reflux, allergies, dryness and environmental irritation. ENTCare SWFL offers throat evaluation with flexible laryngoscopy when appropriate to assess for structural abnormalities, masses, foreign bodies or other causes of persistent symptoms. Same-day laryngoscopy may be available when clinically appropriate.
Reflux, Sleep & Airway
Reflux, Sleep Apnea and Airway Concerns
Throat irritation and breathing problems during sleep are often evaluated by examining the entire upper airway.
Acid Reflux — GERD / LPR
Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), sometimes called “silent reflux,” occurs when stomach contents travel high enough to irritate the throat and voice box. It may contribute to throat clearing, hoarseness, cough, irritation or a sensation sometimes mistaken for post-nasal drainage. ENTCare SWFL offers evaluation with in-office flexible laryngoscopy to look for irritation, swelling or vocal cord changes that may be associated with reflux. Follow-up laryngeal evaluation may be recommended based on symptoms, examination findings and treatment response.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the upper airway repeatedly narrows or closes during sleep, causing snoring, disrupted breathing and fragmented sleep. ENTCare SWFL offers comprehensive upper-airway evaluation, which may include pharyngeal examination for enlarged tonsils and tongue-related obstruction, nasal endoscopy to evaluate the septum, nasal polyps and nasal airway, and flexible laryngoscopy to evaluate the tongue base, pharynx and larynx. Same-day upper-airway evaluation may be available when clinically appropriate. Medical consultation regarding CPAP and surgical consultation for appropriate upper-airway interventions are available.
Thyroid, Throat Cancer & Neck Masses
Thyroid, throat and neck masses can result from benign growths, inflammation, infection or malignancy. Appropriate diagnostic evaluation helps determine the cause and treatment options. ENTCare SWFL offers in-office diagnostic evaluation for suspected throat cancers, including flexible laryngoscopy and biopsy of appropriate neck masses. Same-day flexible laryngoscopy may be available when clinically appropriate. Surgical consultation is available for head and neck cancer treatment as well as selected benign or cosmetically concerning tumors and masses in pediatric and adult patients. We coordinate with local radiology and oncology physicians for treatment and ongoing monitoring.
Airway Stenosis
Airway stenosis is abnormal narrowing of the larynx, trachea or another portion of the upper airway and can lead to noisy breathing, shortness of breath or difficulty moving air. ENTCare SWFL offers both minimally invasive endoscopic techniques and traditional open surgical approaches for selected airway stenosis cases in coordination with cardiothoracic surgeons at NCH.
Not every patient is a candidate for a given procedure. Your physician will determine which evaluations or treatment options may be appropriate.
Need an ENT Evaluation?
Request an appointment with Dr. Price Sonkarley to discuss throat, voice, swallowing or sleep-related symptoms.