We Know About Fingerprints... but EARprints?

MSNBC reported today about a burglar who was nabbed through DNA, fingerprint, AND EARprint evidence.Earprints are considered just as unique to an individual as fingerprints and dozens of earprints were used as evidence in this case. It was alleged that the burglar suspect pressed his ear against doors and windows to listen for anybody being home before breaking in.In another statistic, earprints are found in 1 out of every 20 burglaries.FearID or...

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Barometric Sinus Headache

MSNBC published a story on April 26, 2012 regarding headaches that come and go with pressure changes such as when flying in an airplane.The neurological researchers call it "airplane headache" and the story makes it sound like a newly discovered headache, but in actuality, it is something that has been known for a very long time.Human sinus cavities are air-filled cavities. When outside pressure changes relative to the air pressure within the sinus...

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Video on Zenker's Diverticulum Surgery (Endoscopic Staple Diverticulostomy)

Our office has produced a new video describing Endoscopic Staple Diverticulostomy to treat Zenker's Diverticulum.We have the unusual honor of having treated patients throughout the United States for this rare condition. Patients we have successfully treated have come from as far away as Oregon, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Arizona, etc.For more information, please visit us he...

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Video of Eustachian Tube Popping Open with Valsalva

Ever wonder what the eustachian tube looks like when the ear pops open with valsalva maneuver? Valsalva is accomplished by trying to blow air out a nose that is pinched closed. The eustachian tube is a tunnel that goes from the back of the nose to the ear.Well, here you go! Video provided courtesy of Dr. Vijay Anand.Watch this video to see where this eustachian tube is exactly located.Read more about ear popping and when one is NOT able to pop the ears, a condition called eustachian tube dysfuncti...

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Levon Helm, Singer/Drummer for The Band, Dies of Throat Cancer

Levon Helm, legendary singer and drummer for The Band, died of throat cancer at age 71 on April 19, 2012.It is unclear exactly what happened over this past month, but media reports state that he was diagnosed with vocal cord cancer in 1998 and underwent 28 sessions of radiation treatment at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. His cancer was almost certainly due to his 3 packs per day smoking and though he quit with his initial cancer diagnosis,...

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Why Does EpiPen Have to be Injected into the Thigh?

As any severely food allergic patients know, when suffering from a potentially life-threatening anaphylactic reaction, they need to jab an epinephrine needle into the side of their thigh...But... why the thigh? Why not the arm like most other shots?Per AAAAI, there have been 3 anatomic sites investigated to determine which location offers the fastest systemic absorption of epinephrine when injected intramuscularly and/or subcutaneously.Intramuscular...

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Video on Ear Clogging and What Happens When They Pop Open (or Don't)

A new video has been created describing anatomically how a person pops the ear open when it feels clogged or under pressure. Also explained is what happens anatomically when the clogged ear is very difficult if not impossible to pop open; a condition called eustachian tube dysfunction.Check the video out he...

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Dental X-rays Linked to Brain Tumors

In a study spanning over decades, researchers have found an association between dental x-rays and increased risk of a non-malignant type of brain tumor called meningioma.Of the four types of dental x-rays, only the full-mouth series was associated with this increased risk. More specifically, the risk was elevated with the aggregate number of full-mouth series in 10-year periods from approximately 15–40 years before diagnosis, with significant elevations...

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Tonsil Bad Breath and Tonsil Stones

The Huffington Post published a story on tonsil stones on April 4, 2012 which can lead to bad breath. The author, who is a dentist, gave the perspective of conservative treatment strategies to resolve bad breath whose root cause is due to tonsil stones otherwise known as tonsilloliths.Such "stones" are produced and ejected from tonsils and consist of mucus, dead cells and other debris that collect in the deep pockets of the tonsils and gradually...

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How Does Cervical Spine Surgery Potentially Cause Voice and Swallow Problems? [video]

It is not unusual for an ENT surgeon to see patients with swallowing and voice difficulties after cervical spine surgery. In particular, the ACDF surgery (Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion).The key to understanding these issues is to first understand the anatomy involved.The cervical spine is located in the back of the neck. In front of this spine is the esophagus (swallowing tube) and voicebox.As such, when a spine surgeon goes through the...

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