Head Neck Surgery

Cancer of the head and neck are the most common cancers in India (30% of all cancers). In the past, the treatment of head and neck cancer was only aimed at cancer-free survival. Issues like cosmesis, speech, swallowing, pain relief etc. were considered secondary. Over the last few years, the goals of such treatments have changed. Now, in addition to improved survival, we also aim to improve the quality of life of our patients with better cosmesis, better functional outcomes like normal speech, swallowing, taste, smell etc Head and Neck Cancer Surgery is the mainstay in the treatment of head and neck cancer patients. Early stages of these types of cancer require surgery which can be done with lasers. Lasers have an advantage over conventional surgery in that they cause less pain, less fibrosis and therefore less trismus and better cosmesis. Micro-laryngoscopic lasers can avoid the need for open surgery. Intermediate stage laryngeal cancers require conservative partial laryngectomies. Advanced head and neck cancer requires extensive surgeries such as composite resection (called commando operation in the past), total laryngectomy with or without pharyngectomy, etc.