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Head and neck surgery involves the surgical removal of tumours from the skull base to the clavicle (collar bone). It comes broadly under these categories:
- squamous (relating to skin) cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract (HNSCC). The aerodigestive tract affects breathing, swallowing and speech
- salivary gland and thyroid neoplasms (tumours)
Patients would possibly require a combination of surgery, external beam radiation and chemotherapy, known as multimodality treatment.
Surgery on cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract is complex, because it involves removal of the cancer that is often inaccessible, lies within the intricate anatomy of the head and neck, and must be performed with the preservation of function (speech and swallowing) and form whenever possible. The anatomical subsites within the head and neck include the nasopharynx, paranasal sinuses, oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx and hypopharynx.
Eligible patients are offered Organ Preservation Protocols, which make use of definitive chemo- and radiotherapy as an alternative to radical surgery. In addition, selected patients with recurrent or unresectable cancers (cancers that have spread) are enrolled into clinical trials involving novel new therapies.
HNSCC is the 6th most common cancer worldwide and has a strong association with nicotine and alcohol abuse. Two-thirds of patients with HNSCC present with locally advanced disease.
The HPB Surgery unit of the Department of Surgical Oncology at National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS)
International Training & Experience
Head and neck surgery is complex and technically demanding. We have a strong team of head and neck surgeons, North American-trained with vast experience treating complex cancers of the head and neck.
Depth of Expertise
Our team collectively performs 40-50 major head and neck operations, and between 200 to 250 thyroid surgeries a year.
Positive Outcomes
Our five-year survival for patients with locally advanced HNSCC is 50%, comparing favourably with the best institutions worldwide.
Multidisciplinary Care
The team works with Medical and Radiation Oncologists from the NCCS at the Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Tumor Boards to formulate the best therapeutic strategies for the individual patient.
For enquiries and appointments, please contact:
National Cancer Centre Singapore
Foreign Patients Services
Tel: (65) 6236 9433 Fax: (65) 6536 0611
Email: foreign_patient@nccs.com.sg
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