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Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
About me
Deputy Chief Physician of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Master's degree, proficient in the diagnosis, treatment, and surgery of common and frequent diseases in otolaryngology head and neck surgery. Specializes in research areas including allergic diseases, sleep and snoring disorders, vertigo diseases, and vocal medicine.
Proficient in diseases
Chronic rhinitis, allergic rhinitis, nosebleeds, sinusitis, nasal polyps, benign and malignant tumors of the nose, skull base tumors in the nose area, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, snoring, hypopharyngeal tumors; laryngitis, vocal cord polyps, throat cancer.
Voices
What are the symptoms of nasopharyngeal carcinoma?
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a malignant, space-occupying lesion in our nasopharynx. Clinically, the initial symptoms are those of the nasopharynx, manifesting as discomfort in the nasopharyngeal area, or blood in nasal discharge when sniffling. As the nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissue enlarges, it can block the posterior nasal apertures, leading to nasal congestion, rapid breathing, and difficulty in breathing. The tumor tissue pressing on our Eustachian tube can cause secretory middle ear infections. The metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells to our cervical lymph nodes causes swelling of these lymph nodes. Destruction of the cranial structure by nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues presents symptoms such as headaches. There are also other symptoms, mainly due to the spread of nasopharyngeal carcinoma throughout the body or its metastasis to other parts causing corresponding symptoms.
The difference between sinusitis and rhinitis
Rhinitis and sinusitis are common inflammations in our nasal area, frequently occurring and widely prevalent. Rhinitis primarily involves inflammation of the nasal mucosa, while sinusitis specifically refers to inflammation in the sinus cavities and their mucous membranes. These two have different locations of onset. Furthermore, rhinitis is more commonly seen clinically compared to sinusitis, which is less common relative to rhinitis. Moreover, rhinitis is generally treated with medication and seldom requires surgical intervention. In contrast, sinusitis may also require surgical treatment besides medication. Thus, the main differences between them primarily include these aspects. Overall, the fundamental difference between rhinitis and sinusitis lies in their different locations of onset.
Does sinusitis require surgery?
Sinusitis refers to inflammation of the sinus, clinically mainly bacterial inflammation, as well as fungal inflammation. Whether sinusitis requires surgery depends on the specific condition of the patient. Endoscopic examination of the nose and sinus CT scans can be carried out to assess the condition of the sinus lesions. If there is a lot of sinus secretion and the sinus cavity is congested, and there is polypoid changes in the overall nasal passage, surgical treatment may be considered. For the vast majority of sinusitis patients, the current viewpoint is that treatment is mainly through medication, and only a small part needs surgical treatment after assessment. Therefore, sinusitis does not necessarily require surgery. Start with medication treatment; if the effect is not good, or there are other concurrent issues, consider surgical treatment after assessment.
How is adenoid hypertrophy surgery performed?
The adenoid is a lymphoepithelial tissue located in the nasopharyngeal region. Enlargement of the adenoid can block the nasal passages, leading to snoring and sleep apnea, often requiring surgical removal of the adenoid. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia. Firstly, we use a catheter to suspend the soft palate to expose the adenoid tissue. Then, using a nasal endoscope, with the right hand holding a plasma knife, the enlarged adenoid is ablated. The surgery involves inserting the nasal endoscope and adenoid knife through the mouth. The procedure is relatively short, lasting about five to ten minutes. There is very little bleeding after the surgery, making it truly a minimally invasive procedure.
How is nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosed?
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a malignant, occupying lesion that occurs in the nasopharyngeal area, and clinically it is mainly squamous cell carcinoma. Relatively speaking, although this tumor is malignant, its degree of malignancy is relatively low, especially when compared to liver cancer, lung cancer, and other malignant tumors. The definitive diagnosis of any tumor primarily relies on histopathological diagnosis, which means that pathological examination is the gold standard. In the case of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, we can make a pathological examination by using nasopharyngeal biopsy tissue with forceps under nasendoscopy. If cancer cells are found, then it is essentially confirmed. Of course, other examination methods, such as CT and MRI, are also helpful in diagnosing nasopharyngeal carcinoma and determining whether there are any metastases.
Vocal cord polyps minimally invasive surgery, how long until discharge?
Vocal cord polyps are benign tumor-like lesions that occur on the vocal cords. Clinically, they are primarily treated through surgery, which involves the removal of the polyps. Currently, minimally invasive surgery for vocal cord polyps is mainly performed under a surgical microscope with the support of a laryngoscope. Typically, hospitalization for this surgery lasts about three to five days, although a stay of around three days may also be sufficient, and it is treated as an emergency procedure. There is a growing trend for treating vocal cord polyps as day surgery in outpatient clinics, with approximately one day of hospitalization. This means that the surgery can be performed and the patient can be discharged on the same day. Day surgery requires a certain level of medical expertise and is possible in some high-level hospitals that can support this type of outpatient procedure.
Can late-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma be cured?
Nasopharyngeal cancer is a malignant tumor located in the nasopharynx. Late-stage nasopharyngeal cancer refers to stages three and four, particularly stage four, where the patient experiences destruction of adjacent tissue structures and metastasis to distant organs. In such cases, clinical treatment generally involves symptomatic management or palliative care, aimed at improving the patient's quality of life and alleviating suffering. Whether nasopharyngeal cancer, especially in its late stages, can be cured is highly uncertain; its prognosis is very poor, and no one can definitively answer if it can be cured. However, the chances of cure are extremely slim, and the main approach is to provide palliative treatments.
Does suppurative tonsillitis require hospitalization?
Purulent tonsillitis refers to the acute purulent infection of the tonsils, mainly caused by bacterial infections, including Staphylococcus aureus, hemolytic streptococcus, etc. The clinical symptoms of purulent tonsillitis are quite obvious and relatively severe. However, generally, purulent tonsillitis is not treated in the hospital nowadays, but treated in outpatient settings with oral antibiotics or intravenous infusions for anti-infection treatment. Clinically, unless purulent tonsillitis is complicated by other diseases, such as peritonsillar abscess, pharyngeal abscess, or retropharyngeal abscess, hospitalization may be considered for treatment.
Is chronic pharyngitis contagious?
Chronic pharyngitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pharyngeal mucosa. This inflammatory condition may evolve from an acute infection, be allergic in nature, or stem from esophageal acid reflux. It is important to note that this type of chronic inflammation is not contagious; it does not spread, so no isolation measures are needed. Thus, it is important to focus on active treatment and consume plenty of water to prevent the worsening of chronic pharyngitis or frequent recurrent episodes, which could exacerbate the condition.
Is surgery necessary for a deviated nasal septum?
Nasal septum deviation is a structural abnormality where the cartilage or bone of the nasal septum leans towards one or both sides of the nasal cavities. Clinically, a perfectly vertical nasal septum does not exist; there is always some degree of deviation, but the extent can vary significantly. If nasal septum deviation is accompanied by symptoms such as nasal congestion, nosebleeds, or even headaches, a sinus CT scan should be conducted to assess the degree of deviation. If the deviation is severe, then surgery is definitely necessary. For cases with no clinical symptoms and only minor deviation, surgery is not required.