Treatment Options

At MultiCare, our team of ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists are dedicated to staying at the forefront of the latest breakthroughs in otolaryngology. We actively embrace cutting-edge technologies, delivering the highest standard of care and providing you with the most advanced and effective treatments available.

Some of our diagnostic and treatment technologies

• Balloon dilation of eustachian tubes: These devices are inserted through the nostril while under anesthesia, avoiding the need for any external surgical incisions. Guided endoscopically, the doctor inserts the deflated balloon into the eustachian tube opening in the ear and then inflates it for a few seconds to dilate the tube. After the eustachian tube is dilated, the doctor deflates and removes the balloon.
• Balloon dilation of sinuses: Balloon-assisted sinus surgery adds a safe, minimally invasive tool to help in the surgical treatment of patients suffering from chronic sinusitis. Similar to the eustachian tube procedure, a tiny balloon is placed into the nose and then inflated to open the blocked sinus.
• Drug-eluting sinus implants: This dissolvable, spring-like implant is inserted during endoscopic sinus surgery to maintain the surgical opening and gradually deliver an advanced steroid (mometasone furoate) with anti-inflammatory properties directly to the sinus lining, where it is needed most, as the implant dissolves. This helps reduce swelling, scarring and polyp formation.
• Facial nerve monitoring: A medical technique used during certain surgical procedures, particularly those involving the head and neck, to monitor and protect the facial nerve. During surgery, electrodes are placed on the patient’s face, and the electrical activity of the facial nerve is continuously monitored in real time. This allows surgeons to assess the nerve’s function and adjust during the procedure to prevent potential damage.
• Sialendoscopy: In a sialendoscopy procedure, ultra-thin endoscopes are used to retrieve stones, dilate ducts, and diagnose and treat other saliva gland disorders.
• Stereotactic image-guided sinus surgery: This real-time, GPS-like navigation system helps guide sinus surgery using CT scan images. As a result, surgical precision and accuracy is enhanced to help avoid important/sensitive structures during complex surgeries.
• Thyroid cancer molecular (genetic) testing: This state-of-the-art testing reduces unnecessary surgeries for thyroid cancer and is performed as part of our standard evaluation of all thyroid tumors.

The body has multiple salivary glands in the cheeks, jaw and mouth. Blockages in the ducts of these glands, whether due to stones, scarring or other causes, can lead to painful swelling and infections. In such cases, antibiotic treatments are prescribed. Evaluation by an ENT specialist may include procedures like duct dilation or stone removal. If traditional treatments are ineffective, or if tumors are present, partial or complete removal of the affected gland may be necessary.

MultiCare’s ENT specialists offer minimally invasive treatments for salivary duct disorders. A technique called sialendoscopy uses ultra-thin endoscopes (less than 2mm diameter) to see directly into the salivary glands to diagnose and treat these disorders. Our ENT surgeons often use additional advanced surgical techniques, like facial nerve monitoring, to safely remove affected glands while preserving important facial nerves and other structures.

When surgical treatment is required, our endocrinology team works with our highly skilled ENT surgeons, providing a comprehensive approach to the management of complex thyroid and parathyroid disorders. We offer a full range of surgical procedures, from minimally invasive techniques to operations for metastatic and invasive cancers.