5 changes to treating and diagnosing ENT conditions
20th March 2017
Ordering CT and MRI scans of the head/brain for three commonly presented conditions — hearing loss, acute rhinosinusitis and hoarseness — is unnecessary and should be avoided.

This advice forms part of a new set of guidelines from the Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery on testing and treatment options.
They are:
- Don’t order CT scan of the head/brain for sudden hearing loss. However, it may be appropriate in patients with focal neurologic findings, a history of trauma or chronic ear disease.
- Don’t prescribe oral antibiotics for uncomplicated