UT Health's board-certified ENT specialists provide complete ear services for all ages. From diagnosis, to medical and surgical treatments, our mission is to provide the highest quality care for all your ENT needs.
To learn more about commonly treated conditions and procedures, click the boxes below.
Your sinuses are air-filled spaces inside your forehead, cheekbones, and behind the bridge of your nose. When they get inflamed -- usually because of an allergic reaction or an infection -- they swell, make more mucus, and the channels that drain them can get blocked.
The build-up of pressure in your sinuses causes pain that feels like a headache.
You’ll feel a deep and constant pain in your cheekbones, forehead, or the bridge of your nose. The pain usually gets stronger when you move your head suddenly or strain. At the same time, you might have other sinus symptoms, such as:
- A runny nose
- Feeling of fullness in your ears
- Fever
- Swelling in your face
What is chronic sinusitis?
Chronic sinusitis occurs when the spaces inside your nose and head (sinuses) are swollen and inflamed for three months or longer, despite treatment.
This common condition interferes with the way mucus normally drains, and makes your nose stuffy. Breathing through your nose may be difficult, and the area around your eyes might feel swollen or tender.
What causes chronic sinusitis?
Chronic sinusitis can be brought on by an infection, by growths in the sinuses (nasal polyps) or swelling of the lining of your sinuses.
Treatments for chronic sinusitis:
- Endoscopic sinus surgery is done entirely through the nose with no need for incisions. Endoscopes (tiny cameras) and special instruments are used to remove tissue that is obstructing the nasal sinuses. This surgery is done to treat conditions like chronic sinusitis and polyps.
- Endoscopic balloon sinus dilation (balloon sinuplasty) is a very minimally invasive procedure that can be performed in clinic to dilate the natural sinus openings. Balloon dilation of the sinuses can be performed to treat chronic sinusitis and recurrent sinusitis.
What are nasal polyps?
Nasal polyps are soft, painless, noncancerous growths on the lining of your nasal passages or sinuses. They hang down like teardrops or grapes. They result from chronic inflammation and are associated with asthma, recurring infection, allergies, drug sensitivity or certain immune disorders.
What are the sysmptoms of nasal polyps?
Small nasal polyps may not cause symptoms. Larger growths or groups of nasal polyps can block your nasal passages or lead to breathing problems, a lost sense of smell and frequent infections.
Nasal polyps can affect anyone, but they're more common in adults. Medications can often shrink or eliminate nasal polyps, but surgery is sometimes needed to remove them.
Endoscopic sinus surgery is done entirely through the nose with no need for incisions. Endoscopes (tiny cameras) and special instruments are used to remove tissue that is obstructing the nasal sinuses. This surgery is done to treat conditions like chronic sinusitis and polyps.
A minimally invasive procedure designed to reverse the cycle of chronic or recurrent sinusitis. Endoscopic balloon sinus dilation (also known as balloon sinuplasty) is a minimally invasive treatment for chronic or recurrent sinusitis.
In a balloon sinus dilation procedure, your physician uses a small balloon to dilate or expand the sinus opening and drainage pathways to restore sinus drainage.
Balloon sinus dilation can be performed in an office, under local anesthesia.
To learn more about ear, nose and throat services or to schedule an appointment, call 903-747-4098.
