Ear, Nose, and Throat Pathology

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to ear, nose, and throat pathology for exam preparation.

Cauliflower ear

Acquired deformity of the external ear due to cartilage degeneration induced by trauma, commonly seen in boxers and wrestlers.

Malignant external otitis

Necrotizing inflammation of the external canal, often involving bone, caused by pseudomonas, and can lead to meningitis.

Otitis media

Infection of the middle ear; acute cases are typically caused by streptococcus pneumoniae or haemophilus influenzae.

External auditory canal

The outer ear structure through which sound enters the ear.

Cholesteatoma

Expansile tumor-like condition of the middle ear caused by the growth of squamous epithelium through a perforated tympanic membrane.

Otosclerosis

Autosomal dominant condition; most common cause of hearing loss in young adults due to bone deposition around the stapes.

Paraganglioma

Most common neoplasms of the middle ear after squamous cell cancer, generally slow-growing and may be benign or aggressive.

Acoustic neuroma

Benign tumor of the eighth cranial nerve, usually unilateral, causing deafness and vertigo.

Rhinitis

Inflammation of the nasal mucosa, commonly of viral origin with chronic forms often being allergic.

Inflammatory polyps

Unusual nasal growths before age 20 that may indicate cystic fibrosis in children and contain edematous stroma.

Wegener's granulomatosis

Necrotizing sinusitis and vasculitis, often presenting with respiratory symptoms and positive C-ANCA test.

Sinonasal papilloma

Benign but locally aggressive tumors associated with HPV, occurring in the nose and paranasal sinuses.

Olfactory neuroblastoma

Uncommon malignant tumors arising from neuroectodermal olfactory cells, typically having a bimodal age distribution.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Malignant neoplasm associated with Epstein Barr Virus, often presenting with nasal obstruction and epistaxis.

Angiofibroma

Benign, androgen-dependent tumor occurring in adolescent males, presenting with nasal obstruction and recurrent epistaxis.

Acute epiglottitis

Infection of the epiglottis leading to extreme swelling, often caused by H. influenzae.

Contact ulcers of the larynx

Epithelial ulceration and hyperplasia on the vocal cords, often due to vocal cord abuse.

Laryngeal nodule

Non-inflammatory reaction to vocal cord injury, commonly known as singer's nodule or vocal cord polyps.

Laryngeal carcinoma

Cancer of the larynx most commonly seen in men over 40, linked to smoking and increasingly HPV.

Epithelial membrane antigens

Markers often found in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cases.

Benign tumors

Tumors that are non-cancerous and generally have a better prognosis than malignant tumors.

Exophytic sinonasal papilloma

One of the types of sinonasal papilloma which grows outward.

Inverted sinonasal papilloma

Clinically significant type of sinonasal papilloma that grows inward, potentially recurring.

Vascular septae

Delicate structures separating nests of cells in paragangliomas.

Squamous epithelium

Type of epithelial tissue that may grow abnormally in cholesteatomas.

Meningitis

Severe inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, which can be a complication of malignant otitis.

Eustachian tube dysfunction

Condition that may lead to otitis media by obstructing normal drainage.

Fibrous stroma

A type of tissue composition found in angiofibromas consisting of fibrous connective tissue.

Epidermal cyst

Cystic structure that may contain keratin debris and cholesterol in cholesteatomas.

Pseudomonas

Type of bacteria often responsible for malignant external otitis.

Schwann cells

Cells from which acoustic neuromas arise, involved in the myelin sheath of nerves.

Pleomorphism

Variation in the size and shape of cells and nuclei often observed in neoplasms.

Epistaxis

Nasal bleeding, often a symptom of several ENT conditions including angiofibromas.

C-ANCA

Test indicating the presence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibodies, commonly associated with Wegener's granulomatosis.

Odynophagia

Painful swallowing, a symptom that can occur with laryngeal conditions.

Hemoptysis

Coughing up blood, which may indicate lower respiratory tract involvement in Wegener's granulomatosis.

Neuroectodermal tumors

Tumors that arise from neuroectodermal cells, such as olfactory neuroblastoma.

Asymptomatic

Having no symptoms; often a stage in the progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Tympanic membrane perforation

A tear in the eardrum, commonly associated with chronic otitis media.

Chronic rhinosinusitis

Long-term inflammation of the nasal passages and sinuses, often seen in association with inflammatory polyps.

Trismus

Spasm of the jaw muscles, causing the mouth to remain tightly closed, often associated with peritonsillar abscess or tetanus.

Dysphagia

Difficulty in swallowing, a common symptom in various throat conditions.

Laryngomalacia

A congenital anomaly of the larynx where the laryngeal cartilages are soft and collapse inward during inspiration, causing inspiratory stridor in infants.

Presbycusis

Age-related hearing loss, typically sensorineural, affecting high frequencies first.

Tinnitus

Perception of sound when no external sound is present, often described as ringing, buzzing, or hissing.

Vertigo

A sensation of spinning or whirling, either of oneself or of the surroundings, often associated with inner ear disorders.

Sialadenitis

Inflammation of a salivary gland, often bacterial (e.g., S. aureus) or viral (e.g., mumps).

Xerostomia

Dry mouth, often a side effect of medications, radiation therapy, or systemic diseases like Sjogren's syndrome.

Leukoplakia

A white patch or plaque on a mucous membrane that cannot be scraped off and is not characterized as any other disease. It is a precancerous lesion, especially in the oral cavity.

Erythroplakia

A red velvety patch on a mucous membrane that cannot be diagnosed as any other condition; it has a higher malignant transformation rate than leukoplakia.