Rhinology refers to a subspecialty within the field of otolaryngology (ENT) focused on the treatment of diseases and disorders affecting the nasal cavity and sinuses.
The LHNC has a rhinology team providing comprehensive management of all aspects of rhinology.
Disease treated:
Nasal allergy
Nasal polyps and recurrent nasal polyps
Nose bleeds (including Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia)
Sinusitis
Chronic rhinosinusitis (including cystic fibrosis, auto-immune disease, immune deficiency, recurrent rhinosinusitis, revision sinus surgery and frontal sinus surgery)
Nasal deformity
Nasal septal perforation (including 3-D printed custom-made septal buttons)
Smell and taste disorders
Tumours of the nose and sinuses
Watery eye (epihora)
Thyroid-related eye problems
Nasal problems related to systemic vasculitis
Non-sinus related facial pain
Cerebrospinal fluid leak (from the nose)
Skull base tumours (including pituitary tumours)
Clinics
In addition to general rhinology clinics, there are clinics focusing on complex rhinological disorders, smell disorders, vasculitis and non-sinus related facial pain. The majority of patients referred by their General Practitioners are assessed in the general rhinology clinics initially and where appropriate, their care may be transitioned to more specialised clinics.
Clinical Trials
The team has recruited to a number of studies focusing on nasal blockage (e.g. NAIROS trial) and chronic rhinosinusitis (in collaboration with the University of Liverpool and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine).
Clinicians
Clinicians who have a subspecialist interest in rhinology are called rhinologists. They are ENT surgeons who have undertaken additional training and professional development to develop unique skill sets in the medical and surgical treatment of nasal and sinus disorders.
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Mr Ahmed Hussein
Consultant ENT
Mr Hussein completed his MBBS and ENT in Ainshams University in Cairo, Egypt.
He finished his MS and MD at Ainshams University. His MD was about augmentation rhinoplasty. He finished his fellowship in rhinology (especially rhinoplasty) at Charing Cross hospital, Imperial college London. He also finished the European board exam in otolaryngology and head and neck surgery as well as FRCS exam in ENT. He is a locum consultant at Liverpool University Hospital with special interest in rhinology, facial plastics and rhinoplasty. He is a lecturer of Otolaryngology at Ainshams university in Cairo, Egypt.
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Mr Sam Leong
Consultant Rhinologist/ Anterior Skull Base Surgeon
Mr. Samuel Leong is a core member of the Liverpool Skull Base Team. He is a fellowship-trained rhinologist who has spent an extended period of specialist training in Australia, Singapore, and New Zealand. Although he treats all aspects of sinonasal diseases including smell disorders, he specialises in complex sinus problems (e.g., frontal sinus, revision surgery, difficult-to-treat chronic rhinosinusitis) and sinonasal tumours (including cancers). His clinical practice also includes a unique and bespoke service utilising 3-D printing technology to help patients with large nasal septal perforations.
Mr. Leong maintains a busy rhinology service and regularly accepts referrals from across Merseyside, and as far away as North Wales, Lancashire and Yorkshire. He regularly collaborates with Neurosurgeons at The Walton Centre in dealing with skull base tumours. Mr. Leong also holds an honorary contract with Alder Hey Children’s Hospital where he offers his skill and experience to the rhinology team there in treating children with complex cranio-facial and skull base problems.
He is the lead consultant of the Liverpool Rhinology Fellowship programme which has been accredited by The Royal College of Surgeons of England to have met their strict criteria and high standards for expert training in rhinology. The fellowship is an extremely sought-after programme which has trained surgeons from the UK, Europe and Asia.
In addition to being on the teaching faculty of many sinus surgery courses, he is the lead organiser of the Frontal Sinus Masterclass, the Liverpool Advanced FESS Course and the Sinus Anatomy and Surgery Instructional Course.
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Mr Andrew Swift
Consultant Rhinologist
Mr Swift is Consultant ENT surgeon and Rhinologist at the Liverpool Head and Neck Centre, Liverpool University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK and Honorary Senior Lecturer, Edge Hill University.
His special interests include sinonasal papilloma, frontal sinus disorders, the endonasal repair of CSF leaks and septorhinoplasty. He is an enthusiastic teacher who has organised many courses and conferences.
He is President-elect ENT UK due to take on the role of President in April 2022.
Recent member of Council of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Full honorary member of the German ENT Society. Court of Examiners for MRCS. European Board examiner for ORL. Previous examiner and Assessor for the Intercollegiate FRCS-ORL.
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Mr Chris Webb
Consultant Otolaryngologist
Our clinicians also collaborate with their colleagues in Alder Hey Children’s Hospital to treat children with nasal tumours or sinus problems. They also work closely with other specialists (e.g. neurosurgery, maxilla-facial surgery, ophthalmology, oncology) managing patients with tumours of the sinus and skull base.
Our consultants provide a bespoke service that, in many aspects, is unique to the North West of England. For example, we are the only clinic in the region capable of undertaking comprehensive smell testing. The smell clinic is recognised by FifthSense, the national charity supporting people affected by smell and taste disorders. In collaboration with our rhinologists, FifthSense launched its regional hub in Liverpool in 2021. In addition, we are the only unit capable of fabricating 3-D printed custom-made implants for patients suffering with nasal septal perforations. Our rhinologists are also actively involved in the regional Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT), vasculitis and facial pain services.