Families who seek care for a child with a complex medical condition find the experts they need with Mayo Clinic Pediatric Otolaryngology and the Children's Center on Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota. These specialists provide innovative, compassionate and comprehensive care that is focused on the child and family.
The pediatric otolaryngology team, also known as the ear, nose and throat (ENT) team, has extensive experience caring for children who have serious medical and surgical conditions of the ear, nose and throat, including those related to breathing and the airway, feeding and swallowing, voice and speech, the face and skull (craniofacial), the nose and sinuses, sleep, fetal issues, and head and neck tumors.
Team-based care for the whole child
Your child benefits from the multidisciplinary practice model used by Mayo Clinic Pediatric Otolaryngology. Your ear, nose and throat specialist might consult with other specialists to provide exactly the care your child needs. The care team might include pediatric experts in audiology, cardiology, infectious diseases, fetal and maternal medicine, other surgical specialties, pulmonology, gastroenterology, hematology/oncology, and dermatology. Your care team works with you and your child to develop a care plan based on your needs and goals.
Your child's team might also include a pediatric nurse practitioner, dietitians, medical geneticists (for conditions involving genes and heredity), physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, patient educators, and child-life specialists.
Our pediatric ENT team is able to provide these comprehensive services in the most efficient and effective way possible through a range of multidisciplinary clinics for children with complex conditions. These clinics include:
Latest treatments and technology
Mayo Clinic has long been a destination for parents seeking answers and the best treatment for their children's serious and challenging medical conditions. The clinic's leading-edge technology and treatments for children with complex ear, nose and throat issues include:
- 3D anatomic modeling laboratory. Pediatric radiologists create 3D models of complex anatomy from CT scans and MRI scans in order to help surgeons plan their approach.
- Minimally invasive surgery. This approach is used to lessen tissue damage and pain.
- Proton beam therapy. Children with cancer stand to benefit the most from proton beam therapy, and conversely can suffer the greatest long-term harm from conventional radiation therapy because their organs are still developing.
- Specialized surgeries. Mayo Clinic in Minnesota is one of the few medical centers in the United States with the expertise to perform specialized surgeries for children with ear, nose and throat disorders, such as laryngotracheal reconstruction, airway stenting, and integrated surgery and sclerotherapy for complex vascular anomalies.
Innovative research focused on children with ear, nose and throat conditions
Our pediatric otolaryngology team has developed innovative treatment options and includes national and international leaders in pediatric aerodigestive care, pediatric airway reconstruction, and pediatric cleft lip and palate surgery. Learn more about pediatric otolaryngology research at Mayo Clinic.
Talk with your doctor about whether an innovative clinical trial might be right for your child. In addition, Mayo Clinic is a member of the Children's Oncology Group. This large collaboration among hospitals gives children access to clinical trials that offer the latest in treatments for childhood cancers.
Top-ranked center
Mayo Clinic, which includes Mayo Clinic Children's Center, is recognized as a top choice for patients and families by U.S. News & World Report and many other ranking organizations.
The Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center meets strict standards for a National Cancer Institute comprehensive cancer center, recognizing scientific excellence and a multispecialty approach focused on cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.