How to avoid pitfalls when referring patients to otolaryngology.

Delayed, faulty, incomplete, or misdiagnosed referrals to otolaryngology (also called ear, nose, and throat, or ENT) can result in physical and monetary harm to the patient and time spent by clinicians in reordering the appropriate diagnostic tests. This article describes how to refer patients to ENT in the most time- and cost-effective ways, and addresses initial management in primary care.