Professional background

Mr Obholzer works in the NHS as a consultant ENT and skull base surgeon at Guy’s Hospital, Kings College Hospital, and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery on Queen Square. He has a sub-specialty practice in the management of complex disorders of the base of the skull, the ear and the side of the head.

In practice this means that he has great experience in managing the rare disorders affecting this area, including tumours within the head, and extending through the skull, particularly those involving the nerves and blood vessels of the head.

Research interests

  • Surgical correction of hearing loss and ear diseases, management and surgery of disorders of the ear
  • Facial nerve and lateral skull base including vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma) and parotid surgery
  • Paragangliomas of the head and neck
  • Management of facial palsy.

Publications

Obholzer R, Borsetto D, Sandison A.
Function preservation for resection of vagal schwannoma of the head and neck: Are we talking about the same technique?
Head Neck. 2020 Sep 3. doi: 10.1002/hed.26448.

Lloyd, S., Obholzer, R., Tysome, J.
British Skull Base Society Clinical Consensus Document on Management of Head and Neck Paragangliomas
(2020) Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (United States), .

Boscolo-Rizzo, P., Borsetto, D., Fabbris, C., Spinato, G., Frezza, D., Menegaldo, A., Mularoni, F., Gaudioso, P., Cazzador, D., Marciani, S., Frasconi, S., Ferraro, M., Berro, C., Varago, C., Nicolai, P., Tirelli, G., Da Mosto, M.C., Obholzer, R., Rigoli, R., Polesel, J., Hopkins, C.
Evolution of Altered Sense of Smell or Taste in Patients with Mildly Symptomatic COVID-19
(2020) JAMA Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, .

Evans, D.G., Hartley, C.L., Smith, P.T., King, A.T., Bowers, N.L., Tobi, S., Wallace, A.J., Perry, M., Anup, R., Lloyd, S.K.W., Rutherford, S.A., Hammerbeck-Ward, C., Pathmanaban, O.N., Stapleton, E., Freeman, S.R., Kellett, M., Halliday, D., Parry, A., Gair, J.J., Axon, P., Laitt, R., Thomas, O., Afridi, S.K., Obholzer, R., Duff, C., Stivaros, S.M., Vassallo, G., Harkness, E.F., Smith, M.J.
Incidence of mosaicism in 1055 de novo NF2 cases: much higher than previous estimates with high utility of next-generation sequencing
(2020) Genetics in Medicine, 22 (1), pp. 53-59.

Withey, S.J., Perrio, S., Christodoulou, D., Izatt, L., Carroll, P., Velusamy, A., Obholzer, R., Lewington, V., Jacques, A.E.T.
Imaging features of succinate dehydrogenase-deficient pheochromocytoma- paraganglioma syndromes
(2019) Radiographics, 39 (5), pp. 1393-1410.

Halliday, D., Emmanouil, B., Vassallo, G., Lascelles, K., Nicholson, J., Chandratre, S., Anand, G., Wasik, M., Pretorius, P., Evans, D.G., Parry, A., Axon, P., Gair, J., Smyth, C., Afridi, S.K., Obholzer, R., Everett, V., Jarvis, N., Henshaw, K., Hanemann, C.O., Howard, W., May, A., Redman, C., Rattihalli, R., Tomkins, H.
Trends in phenotype in the English paediatric neurofibromatosis type 2 cohort stratified by genetic severity
(2019) Clinical Genetics, 96 (2), pp. 151-162.

Ahmed, W., Connor, S., Obholzer, R., Pai, I.
A dural arteriovenous fistula associated with an encephalocele presenting as otitis media with effusion
(2018) Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 132 (11), pp. 1032-1035.

King, A.T., Rutherford, S.A., Hammerbeck-Ward, C., Lloyd, S.K., Freeman, S.R., Pathmanaban, O.N., Kellett, M., Obholzer, R., Afridi, S., Axon, P., Halliday, D., Parry, A., Thomas, O.M., Laitt, R.D., McCabe, M.G., Stivaros, S., Erridge, S., Gareth Evans, D.
Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors are not a Feature of Neurofibromatosis Type 2 in the Unirradiated Patient
(2018) Clinical Neurosurgery, 83 (1), pp. 38-42.

Shapey, J., Barkas, K., Connor, S., Hitchings, A., Cheetham, H., Thomson, S., U-King-Im, J.M., Beaney, R., Jiang, D., Barazi, S., Obholzer, R., Thomas, N.W.M.
A standardised pathway for the surveillance of stable vestibular schwannoma
(2018) Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 100 (3), pp. 216-220.

Pai, I., Rojas, P., Jiang, D., Obholzer, R., Coward, T.
The use of 3D printed external and internal templates for Bonebridge implantation – technical note
(2017) Clinical Otolaryngology, 42 (5), pp. 1118-1120.

Jeyarajan, H., Ritchie, L.M., Obholzer, R.
Contemporary management of jugular paragangliomas
(2017) Otorhinolaryngologist, 10 (3), pp. 121-127.

Saman, Y., Mclellan, L., Mckenna, L., Dutia, M.B., Obholzer, R., Libby, G., Gleeson, M., Bamiou, D.-E.
State anxiety subjective imbalance and handicap in vestibular schwannoma
(2016) Frontiers in Neurology, 7 (JUL), art. no. 101, .

Saman, Y., Bamiou, D.-E., Murdin, L., Tsioulos, K., Davies, R., Dutia, M.B., Obholzer, R., Gleeson, M.
Balance, Falls Risk, and Related Disability in Untreated Vestibular Schwannoma Patients
(2014) Journal of Neurological Surgery, Part B: Skull Base, 75 (5), pp. 332-338.

Suarez, C., Rodrigo, J.P., Mendenhall, W.M., Hamoir, M., Silver, C.E., Gregoire, V., Strojan, P., Neumann, H.P.H., Obholzer, R., Offergeld, C., Langendijk, J.A., Rinaldo, A., Ferlito, A.
Carotid body paragangliomas: A systematic study on management with surgery and radiotherapy
(2014) European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 271 (1), pp. 23-34.

Hornigold, R.E., Golding, J.F., Leschziner, G., Obholzer, R., Gleeson, M.J., Thomas, N., Walsh, D., Saeed, S., Ferner, R.E.
The NFTI-QOL: A disease-specific quality of life questionnaire for neurofibromatosis 2
(2013) Journal of Neurological Surgery, Part B: Skull Base, 73 (2), pp. 104-111.

Grieve, S.M., Obholzer, R., Malitz, N., Gibson, W.P., Parker, G.D.
Imaging of endolymphatic hydrops in Meniere's disease at 1.5 T using phase-sensitive inversion recovery: (1) Demonstration of feasibility and (2) overcoming the limitations of variable gadolinium absorption
(2012) European Journal of Radiology, 81 (2), pp. 331-338.

Obholzer, R.J., Hornigold, R., Connor, S., Gleeson, M.J.
Classification and management of cervical paragangliomas
(2011) Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 93 (8), pp. 596-602.

Pai, I., Bowman, J., Thomas, N., Kitchen, N., Strong, A., Obholzer, R., Gleeson, M.
Management of large and giant vestibular schwannomas
(2011) Skull Base, 21 (6), pp. 379-383.

Obholzer, R.J., Gibson, W.P.R.
Cochlear function following implantation with a full electrode array
(2011) Cochlear Implants International, 12 (1), pp. 44-47.

Obholzer, R., Ahmed, J., Warburton, F., Wareing, M.J.
Hearing and ossicular chain preservation in cholesteatoma surgery
(2011) Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 125 (2), pp. 147-152.

Obholzer, R., Harcourt, J.
Re: Asymmetric hearing thresholds in the non-noise exposed UK population: A retrospective analysis
(2009) Clinical Otolaryngology, 34 (6), pp. 580-581.

Obholzer, R., Ahmed, J., Sandhu, G.
Authors' reply
(2009) Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 123 (8), pp. 937-938.

Trinidade, A., Rowlands, G., Obholzer, R., Lavy, J.
Late skin flap failure following cochlear implantation
(2008) Cochlear Implants International, 9 (3), pp. 167-175.

Nouraei, S.A.R., Obholzer, R., Ind, P.W., Salama, A.D., Pusey, C.D., Porter, F., Howard, D.J., Sandhu, G.S.
Results of endoscopic surgery and intralesional steroid therapy for airway compromise due to tracheobronchial Wegener's granulomatosis
(2008) European Respiratory Review, 17 (107), pp. 30-32.

Obholzer, R.J., Nouraei, S.A.R., Ahmed, J., Kadhim, M.R., Sandhu, G.S.
An approach to the management of paroxysmal laryngospasm
(2008) Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 122 (1), pp. 57-60.

Nouraei, S.A.R., Obholzer, R., Ind, P.W., Salama, A.D., Pusey, C.D., Porter, F., Howard, D.J., Sandhu, G.S.
Results of endoscopic surgery and intralesional steroid therapy for airway compromise due to tracheobronchial Wegener's granulomatosis
(2008) Thorax, 63 (1), pp. 49-52.

Carr, E., Obholzer, R., Caulfield, H.
A prospective study to determine the incidence of atopy in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnea
(2007) International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 71 (1), pp. 19-22.

Georgalas, C., Obholzer, R., Martinez-Devesa, P., Sandhu, G.
Day-case septoplasty and unexpected re-admissions at a dedicated day-case unit: A 4-year audit
(2006) Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 88 (2), pp. 202-206.

Nouraei, S.A.R., Davies, M.R., Obholzer, R., Sandhu, G.S., Porter, F.
Haemodynamic instability during thyroid surgery: A baroreflex-mediated neurogenic phenomenon?
(2006) Anaesthesia, 61 (3), pp. 282-284.

Obholzer, R.J., Rea P.A., Harcourt, J.P.
Magnetic resonance imaging screening for vestibular schwannoma: Analysis of published protocols
(2004) Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 118 (5), pp. 329-332.

Obholzer, R.J., Graham, J.M.
Erratum: A novel retractor for use in cochlear implantation (Otology and Neurology (2003) 24 (749-750))
(2004) Otology and Neurotology, 25 (1), pp. 83-85.

Obholzer, R.J., Graham, J.M.
A novel retractor for use in cochlear implantation
(2003) Otology and Neurotology, 24 (5), pp. 749-750.

Obholzer, R.J., Wareing, M.J.
Intratympanic gentamicin for Ménière's disease; a survey of current UK practice
(2003) Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 117 (6), pp. 459-461.