Does a specialist voice clinic change ENT clinic diagnosis?

Abstract

General ENT clinics lack the high quality diagnostic equipment and multidisciplinary advice that is available in the voice clinic. We wished to find out if referral to a specialist voice clinic from general ENT consultant clinics resulted in a change in diagnosis. Lists of voice clinic attendees were reviewed between January 2003 and May 2004. Notes were obtained for 20 patients who attended voice clinic after referral from a general ENT clinic: 3 had no diagnosis on referral to voice clinic, a diagnosis was given after attendance; 8 had their referring diagnosis changed by attendance; and 9 had no change. The voice clinic adds diagnostic value to the service available in general ENT clinics.