Head and Neck Special Interest Group

If you would like to contact or join the network please email us. We look forward to hearing from you!

What is Head and Neck Surgery?

Head and neck surgery is a specialist field that treats conditions affecting the mouth, throat, sinuses, and neck, including both cancerous and non-cancerous tumours. It encompasses a wide range of procedures, such as thyroidectomies, salivary gland surgeries, and cancer removals, and may also involve reconstructive surgery to restore form or function. 

What it includes:

• Cancer treatment: Removal of benign and malignant tumors in areas like the mouth, throat, larynx, thyroid, and salivary glands.

• Reconstructive surgery: Procedures to restore appearance or function after an injury or as a result of a medical condition, often using techniques like free tissue transfer.

• Functional procedures: Surgeries for non-cancerous conditions, such as removing tonsils to treat obstructive sleep apnoea or sinus surgery to treat chronic sinusitis. 

Common procedures:

• Laryngectomy: Removal of the larynx (voice box).

• Tonsillectomy: Surgical removal of the tonsils.

• Glossectomy: Surgical removal of all or part of the tongue.

• Thyroid and parathyroid surgery: Procedures on the thyroid or parathyroid glands, including thyroidectomy.

• Salivary gland surgery: Removal of salivary glands for tumors or blockages.

• Lymph node dissection: Surgical removal of lymph nodes in the neck, often part of cancer treatment.

• Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS): A minimally invasive "keyhole" procedure to treat chronic sinusitis. 

Head and Neck Cancer Management

 Surgery is often the primary treatment - this could be a major resection and reconstruction or less invasive robotic or laser surgery. Many people are treated with radiotherapy, in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy. Proton Beam Therapy and Immunotherapy are emerging treatments for this patient group. 

Following Head and Neck Surgery or Cancer Treatment patients require intensive input from a wide variety of health care professionals. The MDT may include: Surgeons, Oncologists, Cancer Nurse Specialists, Speech and Language Therapists, Dietitians, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists and Therapeutic Radiographers. 

Some of the long-tern effects of head and neck surgery are: altered airway (tracheostomy or laryngectomy), speech and swallowing problems, shoulder dysfunction, pain and numbness, dry mouth, changes to a person's appearance, lymphoedema, fatigue and low mood. 

Some previous meeting topics include:

• Scar Management

• Facial Rehabilitation

• Assessing and managing shoulder function following head and neck cancer treatment

• Flap Management

• ERAS and DrEaMing 

• https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/head-and-neck-cancer

• https://www.laryngectomy.org.uk/

• https://www.changingfaces.org.uk/

• https://bahno.org.uk/default.aspx

• https://tracheostomy.org.uk/

• https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-laryngology-and-otology/article/head-and-neck-cancer-united-kingdom-national-multidisciplinary-guidelines-sixth-edition/81BBBF470F5F55A75935F78A88B15422