Your adenoids may be removed as part of a tonsillectomy. This operation is also performed through your mouth.

A ruptured eardrum (tympanic membrane perforation) is when a hole or tear occurs in the thin membrane (eardrum) that separates the ear canal from the middle ear. Causes may include middle ear infections, traumatic injury or sudden changes in air pressure. The eardrum usually heals by itself but sometimes a minor surgical procedure might be required to repair it. This typically involves patching the hole with a piece of tissue from a different part of your body. This is usually performed under general anaesthetic.

A tiny camera attached to a tube (endoscope) is inserted into your nose. Very small instruments can be passed through the endoscope and used to remove small pieces of bone and soft tissue. This opens up the ventilation and drainage pathways in the outer wall of your nose.

This operation is performed through the ear canal. A hole is made in the eardrum and the middle ear drained. A small hollow tube (grommet) is placed in the eardrum hole which allows air into the middle ear.

Head and neck cancers may be primary (they start in the head or neck) or secondary (they have spread from a primary tumour in another part of the body). They mainly involve the skin, thyroid gland, mouth, pharynx, larynx, nasal cavity/sinuses or neck. Treatment can include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these, depending on where the cancer is, how big it is, and if it has spread. Surgery for head and neck cancers can be quite extensive, including removal of lymph nodes in the neck, and require major reconstruction.

Growths, lumps, tumours or masses on the head and neck can be benign (non-cancerous) or cancerous and can form in the larynx, pharynx, thyroid gland, salivary gland, mouth, neck, face or skull. Tests to diagnose a mass may include: Neurological examination – assesses eye movements, balance, hearing, sensation, coordination etc MRI – magnetic resonance imaging uses magnetic fields and radio waves to give images of internal organs and body structures CT Scan – computer tomography combines x-rays with computer technology to give cross-sectional images of the body Biopsy – a sample of tissue is taken for examination under a microscope. Enlarged Lymph Nodes Lymph nodes in the neck often become swollen when the body is fighting an infection. Benign Lesions Non-cancerous masses such as cysts are often removed surgically to prevent them from pressing on nerves and other structures in the head and neck. Cancer Cancerous masses spread to surrounding tissues and may be: Primary – they arise in the head or neck. Mostly caused by tobacco or alcohol use Secondary – they have spread from a primary tumour in another part of the body. Cancers may be treated by a combination of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery.

Masses on the head and neck can be benign (noncancerous) or cancerous and can form in the larynx, pharynx, thyroid gland, salivary gland, mouth, neck, face, skull or any other structure in the head and neck region. Noncancerous masses such as cysts are often removed surgically to prevent them from pressing on nerves and other structures in the head and neck. Cancerous masses may be primary (arise in the head or neck) or secondary (they have spread from a primary tumour in another part of the body) and may be treated by a combination of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery. Surgery can be quite extensive, including removal of lymph nodes in the neck, and require major reconstruction.

A surgical procedure involving the removal of lymph nodes (bean-shaped glands that filter harmful agents picked up by the lymphatic system) from the neck to control the spread of cancer. It is most commonly done to treat head and neck cancers that have spread, or have the potential to spread, to the lymph nodes. There are different types of neck dissection, depending on how much tissue is removed – ranging from selective (only certain lymph nodes) to more extensive procedures.

Nose surgery includes a range of procedures to change the shape, improve the function, or treat medical conditions of the nose. Common types include: Rhinoplasty – reshapes the nose for cosmetic or functional reasons. Septoplasty – straightens a deviated nasal septum (the thin wall between the nostrils) to improve breathing. Turbinoplasty – reduces swollen nasal tissues to ease airflow. Sinus surgery – treats chronic sinus infections or blockages.

This is inflammation or infection of your middle ear (the space behind your eardrum) and is often associated with a build-up of fluid in your middle ear. Acute Otitis Media This is usually caused by a temporary malfunction of the Eustachian tube due to allergies, infections or trauma. The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the nose and allows air to enter the middle ear, thus making middle ear pressure the same as air pressure outside the head. Acute otitis media results in an infection in the middle ear causing pain, fever and a red, bulging eardrum (the thin, transparent membrane between the outer ear canal and the middle ear). This condition is usually seen in young children. The treatment may be antibiotics if it is suspected to be a bacterial, rather than viral, infection, or if there are repeated episodes, surgical insertion of grommets into the eardrums may be required. Grommets are tiny ventilation tubes that allow normal airflow into, and drainage out of, the middle ear until the Eustachian tube begins to work normally. The operation is done under general anaesthesia (the child is asleep) and takes 10-15 minutes. Most grommets fall out naturally after six to twelve months, by which time the Eustachian tubes are often working properly. Otitis Media with Effusion (Glue Ear) Like acute otitis media, glue ear is usually the result of a temporary malfunction of the Eustachian tube and may either follow an episode of acute otitis media or occur on its own. The condition is usually seen in children. Fluid is present in the middle ear and the ear is not usually painful, but the ear drum is not red and bulging and there is no fever. Glue ear may lead to hearing loss, which can result in speech delays, and balance problems. Treatment options include: a prolonged course of antibiotics; grommet insertion; or treatment with decongestants, antihistamines or steroids. Chronic Otitis Media If the Eustachian tube is blocked repeatedly over a period of several years, there may be changes to the tissues of the middle ear such as deformity of the ear drum and damage to the bones of the ear. These changes may result in hearing problems, balance problems, and persistent deep ear pain. If such long term damage has occurred, an operation called tympanomastoidectomy may be required. This involves making an incision (cut) behind or around the upper part of your ear, drilling through the mastoid bone and removing, and possibly repairing, damaged tissues.

The parathyroid glands are four small glands located in the neck which produce parathyroid hormone, a hormone involved in the regulation of calcium and phosphate levels. Overactivity of one or more of the glands (hyperparathyroidism) results in excessive parathyroid hormone production. Parathyroidectomy is a surgical procedure to remove one or more of the parathyroid glands through an incision (cut) in the front of and at the base of the neck.

This is a surgical procedure to remove part or all of the parotid gland, which is the largest of the salivary glands and is located in front of and just below the ear. This surgery is most commonly done to remove tumours, which can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). It may also be performed for chronic infections or other gland problems. Special care is taken during the surgery to protect the facial nerve, which runs through the parotid gland and controls movement of the face.

Nasal polyps are removed by inserting small instruments through your nostrils which can grasp and cut out the polyps.

Small cuts (incisions) are made either on the inside or outside (in the creases) of the nose. Excess bone and/or cartilage are removed and the nose reshaped.

There are three large pairs of glands (parotid, sublingual and submandibular) in your mouth that produce saliva which helps break down food as part of the digestion process. Salivary gland surgery involves the removal of one or more of the salivary glands for reasons including: tumours (benign or cancerous), chronic infections or blockages, salivary stones or injuries or cysts. Care is taken to avoid damaging nearby nerves, especially those that control facial movement.

This operation repositions the nasal septum and is performed entirely within your nose so that there are no external cuts made on your face.

In the facial bones surrounding your nose, there are four pairs of hollow air spaces known as sinuses or sinus cavities. These sinuses all open into your nose, allowing air to move into and out of the sinus and mucous to drain into the nose and the back of your throat. If the passage between the nose and sinus becomes swollen and blocked, then air and mucous can become trapped in the sinus cavity causing inflammation of the sinus membranes or linings. This is known as sinusitis. Sinusitis can be: acute - usually a bacterial (or sometimes viral) infection in the sinuses that follows a cold, or an allergic reaction. chronic - a long term condition that lasts for more than 3 weeks and may or may not be caused by an infection. Sinusitis can be a recurrent condition which means it may occur every time you get a cold. Symptoms of sinusitis include: facial pain or pressure nasal congestion (blocking) nasal discharge headaches fever. Treatment for bacterial sinusitis is antibiotics and for non-infective sinusitis may include steroid nasal sprays and nasal washes. If this treatment is unsuccessful, surgery may be considered. This is usually performed endoscopically; a tiny camera attached to a tube (endoscope) is inserted into your nose. Very small instruments can be passed through the endoscope and used to remove abnormal or obstructive tissue thus restoring movement of air and mucous between the nose and the sinus.

Skin cancer of the face, ears, scalp and neck is very common in New Zealand. The most common types are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are generally slow growing and unlikely to spread to other parts of the body while melanoma can spread to other parts of the body and urgent removal is usually recommended. Treatment of skin cancer usually involves surgery to remove the cancer. Most skin cancers can be treated successfully if found early.

The thyroid is a gland that sits in the front, and towards the bottom of, your neck. It is responsible for producing a hormone called thyroxin. Thyroxin has an important role in the body as it affects many organs including the heart, muscles and bones. Diseases that affect the thyroid can make it either overactive (producing too much thyroxin), underactive (not producing enough thyroxin) or enlarged (goitre). Endocrinologists specialise in these diseases as well as cancer of the thyroid. Tests Thyroid problems are usually picked up with a blood test but there are other tests you may have to work out why the problem has occurred. These include: An ultrasound scan. This is where a hand-held scanner head is passed over your thyroid gland and pictures are taken. A nuclear medicine scan. This is where you are given something to drink that contains a substance that only goes to the thyroid gland. Although it is radioactive it does not damage you or anyone else. Pictures are then taken of the thyroid gland that give the doctor information about what might be causing the problem. Fine needle aspirate (FNA). This is where the doctor puts a very fine needle (smaller than for a blood test) into the thyroid gland to take some cells to look at under the microscope.

The thyroid is a gland that sits in the front, and towards the bottom of, your neck. It is responsible for producing a hormone called thyroxin that affects many organs including the heart, muscles and bones. Thyroidectomy is a surgical procedure to remove all or part of the thyroid gland for reasons such as thyroid cancer, goitre (enlarged thyroid), thyroid nodules or overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) that doesn't respond to other treatments. A thyroidectomy may be total (removal of the entire thyroid gland) or partial or lobectomy (removal of part of the gland).

Tonsils are removed in an operation performed through your mouth. The tissue between your tonsils and throat is cut and your tonsils removed.