ABSTRACT
The history in ENT, as with all other branches of medicine and surgery, is of the utmost importance. The information gleaned during this part of the consultation will guide one towards particular areas during the examination and indicate which investigations may be appropriate; this is essential if the doctor is to come to the correct diagnosis. Patients with lumps in the neck must be referred to an ENT specialist, since only the ENT specialist has the adequate equipment and expertise to examine the likely primary sites from which secondary neoplastic neck node deposits may originate. Good illumination is essential when examining all areas in ENT. Most ENT surgeons use a battery-powered or fibre-optic head-light. Nasendoscopy is a skill that even the most junior of ENT doctors must master. Sore throat and tonsillitis along with intra-oral lesions such as ulcers on the tongue are the most common conditions of the mouth seen in ENT practice.
