Specialties

Sinus and Skull Base

Overview

At UW Medicine, our rhinology team comprises surgeons and healthcare providers with specialized training in the medical and surgical management of conditions involving the sinuses, nose, orbit, and skull base. Our providers are distinguished clinicians and researchers, recognized nationally and internationally for their excellence and consistently honored as "Top Docs" by their peers.

We employ a comprehensive approach to patient care, utilizing state-of-the-art technologies and collaborating closely with specialists across multiple disciplines to ensure precise diagnoses and personalized treatment plans. Whenever possible, our primary goal is to alleviate symptoms through medical therapy. If medical management proves insufficient, surgical options may be considered, with the final decision always resting with the patient. We are committed to delivering the most current, evidence-based information, empowering our patients to make informed choices about their care.

As a leading academic medical center, we not only remain at the cutting edge of the latest research and techniques but often pioneer innovative treatment strategies. Our strong collaboration with UW Medicine experts in allergy, immunology, pulmonary medicine, infectious diseases, ophthalmology, and neurosurgery enables a holistic and coordinated approach to treating the whole patient.

Treatment options provided by our specialists

We utilize the latest advances in endoscopic sinus surgery to deliver the highest quality and most modern, minimally invasive procedures to improve quality of life related to chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps. We collaborate with providers from several specialties (e.g, allergy/immunology, rheumatology, infectious disease) to ensure that you have the best possible outcome before and after your procedure.

Nasal blockage due to an anatomic obstruction and chronic runny nose are common conditions that may require a procedure if medical treatments are not effective. We are pleased to offer a wide array of minimally-invasive both in-office and surgical treatments for patients who suffer from these conditions. Our goal is to improve your quality of life and allow you to quickly resume your regular activities using the very latest in available technologies.

We are proud to be one of the few centers in the country to offer a multidisciplinary team approach for treating tear duct and eye/orbit disorders through a minimally invasive technique using a small camera (endoscope) via the nose.

Our expert team of nose and sinus specialists (rhinologists) and eye surgeons (ophthalmologists) collaborate to provide advanced procedures, such as endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) and orbital decompression. These procedures address excessive tearing caused by tear duct blockages and remove bone around the eye to relieve pressure and improve appearance. This minimally invasive approach offers faster recovery times and better outcomes compared to traditional methods.

We treat many serious conditions including CSF leaks, skull base tumors, and brain tumors that require access through the nose and sinuses using a small camera (endoscopic).  This area is called endoscopic skull base surgery, and often uses our expertise along with that of neurosurgeons. Endoscopic skull base surgery allows for improved recovery times and outcomes compared to open surgeries. We also collaborate with a range of experts including medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists, should these condition in a coordinated and multi-disciplinary fashion to ensure the best outcome.

Providers and Researchers

Clinics and Research Center

Research

Sinus and Skull Base

Sinus and Skull Base

Conditions

Our specialists treat a wide range of conditions including:

  • Nasal polyps
  • Nosebleeds (epistaxis)
  • Deviated septum
  • Blocked nasal passage (nose obstruction)
  • Sinusitis
  • Sinusitis and asthma
  • Aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT)
  • Fungal sinus infections (fungal sinusitis)
  • Cystic fibrosis related sinus disease
  • Cerebrospinal fluid leaks (CSF rhinorrhea)
  • Tumors of the skull base, nose and sinuses
  • Smell disorders
  • Blocked tear duct passages (Epiphora)
  • Thyroid eye disease

For a full list of conditions and treatments related to the head, neck, ear, nose and throat please visit the conditions and treatment finder at ENT Health powered by American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery.