With this sixth edition, the book completes 22 years of service to its readers. The speciality of ENT, often called otolaryngology or otorhinolaryngology has diversified into several subspecialities of otology, otoneurology, rhinology, laryngology, bronchoesophagology, paediatric otolaryngology, skull base surgery, and now emerging subspeciality of neuro-rhinology where the brain tumours related to skull base are being treated by endoscopic nasal approaches. The growth in several branches owe their emergence to rapid strides being made in technology such as imaging techniques from simple X-ray to CT, MRI, MR angiography, PET-CT and simultaneous PET-MRI. The development of endoscopes from 4 mm to nearly 1 mm with various viewing angles, lasers, computers and miniature cameras which can be fixed on the tip of the flexible endoscopes have further revolutionized surgery. This further has given birth to minimally invasive surgery, navigation surgery and robotic surgery. With the growth of the speciality both in breadth and depth, it throws several challenges to authors on how much to introduce the subject yet to be concise but comprehensive, and not to lose sight of the basic fundamentals and clinical applications to students entering medical profession in a readable form.
In the present edition, all the chapters have been revised, updated and augmented. Some have been completely rewritten and expanded. New chapters have been added on thyroid disorders, thyroid surgery and proptosis. Several new diagrams, algorithms, tables, flowcharts and clinical photographs have been added to make the subject easily understandable. The chapter on “Nuggets for Rapid Review” provides useful tips which help solve several MCQs often set in the university or board examinations.