Call Us

1800 599 2020

HEAD & NECK ONCOLOGY

SOUND EXPERTISE TO FACE CHALLENGES

SLG Cancer Center’s specialization also encompasses what are collectively known as Head and Neck Cancers. These are cancers that commonly arise in the squamous cells lining of the mucosal surfaces of the head and neck, and are also referred to as squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. Other types of head and neck cancers can arise in the salivary glands, or nodes in the head and neck.

A matter of concern is that India leads the world in having the most number of head and neck cancer cases.

Where do
head and neck
cancers develop?

Oral cavity (including the lips, tongue, gums, inside lining of cheeks and lips, floor of mouth, palate and gums behind the wisdom teeth.

Throat (Pharynx)

Voice Box (Larynx)

Paranasal Sinuses and Nasal Cavity

Salivary Glands

Thyroid Gland

What are the major
causes of head and
neck cancers?

Alcohol

Smoking of tobacco

HPV infection

Chewing paan (betel leaf & tobacco)

Occupational exposure to wood dust, asbestos and synthetic fibers, nickel dust, or formaldehyde

Radiation exposure

Epstein-Barr virus infection

Underlying genetic disorders

What are the symptoms of
head and neck cancer?

Some common symptoms of cancers in specific areas of the head and neck include:

Oral cavity: White or red patch on the gums, the tongue, or the lining of the mouth; a growth or swelling of the jaw; and unusual bleeding with or without pain in the mouth.
Throat (Pharynx): Pain when swallowing; persistent pain in the neck or throat; pain or ringing in the ears; hearing trouble; swelling in neck.
Voice box (Larynx): Trouble breathing or speaking; change in voice; pain when swallowing.
Paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity: Blocked sinuses that do not clear; chronic sinus infections that do not respond to treatment; nasal bleeding; frequent headaches; swelling or other trouble with the eyes; pain in the upper teeth; problems with dentures.
Salivary glands: Swelling under the chin or around the jawbone; numbness or paralysis of the facial muscles; constant pain in the face, chin, or neck.
Thyroid gland: Swelling in the middle of the neck; difficulty in swallowing.

What are the modes of treatment at SLG Cancer Center?

SLG Cancer Center provides the best treatment for head and neck cancers, which may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or a combination of treatments. Our top head and neck cancer specialists draw up a personalized treatment plan after considering a number of factors such as location of the tumour, stage of the cancer, patient’s age and general overall health.

What diagnostic facilities are available at SLG Cancer Center?

SLG Cancer Center is fully equipped with the latest, state-of-the-art diagnostic machines including 3 Tesla MRI and 128 Slice CT Scan for imaging of head and neck cancers and accurate mapping of tumours. High resolution ultrasound scan is particularly helpful in detecting thyroid cancer.

What procedures are commonly performed?

At SLG Cancer Center, we conduct surgeries on all types of cancers in the head and neck regions, supported by fully equipped operation theatres with laminar flow, advanced anaesthetic work stations and a full-fledged ICU setup to handle diseases in any advanced stage cancers.

We regularly perform microvascular free flap reconstruction to provide our patients with excellent functional outcomes despite the debilitative surgery for cancer. For diseases of the larynx, which require minimal invasive surgery, we have a sophisticated LIECA microscope that enables us to perform precision surgery on the very delicate vocal cord tumours/growths.

SLG Cancer Center is today recognised as one of the leading facilities for head and neck surgical oncology. We have a successful track-record of having treated many cases of oral cancer with composite resection with free flap as well as local flap reconstructions, performing micro laryngeal surgery for early stage laryngeal cancers and laryngectomy for any advanced laryngeal cancers.

During the COVID pandemic which saw an epidemic of black fungus (mucormycosis), we performed life-saving complex procedures of maxillectomies with exenteration of orbit and its contents or orbit sparing surgeries. As part of our multi-disciplinary approach, we collaborate with other specialities to perform challenging surgeries like retrosternal thyroid disease, combined endoscopic and external approach sinus lesions and nerve anastomosis as a result of nerve resection due to cancer engulfment.

CONDITIONS TREATED

Meet Our Doctors

Dr. Bhargaw Ilapakurthy

Consultant Head and Neck Oncosurgery & Laser Surgeon

GET APPOINTMENT

Enter Your Mail For SLG Newsletter