Head and Neck Cancer Surgery

About head and neck cancer surgery

Head and neck cancer can affect many important areas, including your mouth, throat, and the areas around your nose. We deliver specialized treatments, some of which are not widely available. Our extensive experience treating these conditions has earned the trust of doctors and patients from across the region.

Our surgical team has earned a reputation for exceptional care. We are meticulous in planning and delivering your care to minimize cancer’s impact on appearance and functioning.

We offer multidisciplinary care of head and neck cancer. In addition to surgery, you can access additional specialized treatments, services and support tailored to your specific needs. Read more about our head and neck cancer program.

Why choose us for head and neck cancer surgery?

Highlights of our program include:

• Expertise: You receive care from fellowship-trained head and neck cancer surgeons. Our surgeons have the experience and interest to exclusively focus on the care of head and neck cancer patients.
• Minimally invasive surgery: In some cases, we access and remove head and neck cancers using robotic and endoscopic techniques. Our surgeons use advanced technologies and specialized instruments to specifically target your tumor while preserving normal tissue.
• Personalized care: At Mays Cancer Center, you can access a broad range of head and neck cancer surgeries and therapies. Your surgeon works with you and a team of cancer experts to design a surgical plan that reflects your needs.

• Team approach: You benefit from the coordinated recommendations of multiple cancer specialists. Head and neck surgeons work in collaboration with medical oncologists and radiation oncologists to create a comprehensive treatment plan. Find out more about the cancer treatments we offer.

Types of head and neck cancer surgery

Types of head and neck cancer surgery we offer include:

• Oral cavity surgery: We remove tumors in the mouth that may involve the lips, tongue and jaw. These procedures may require removing top layers of tissue. More complex surgery may include reconstruction, depending on the tumor and location.
• Throat surgery: We use new robotic and microsurgical technologies to treat select tumors in these hard-to-reach areas.
• Salivary gland surgery: Salivary gland surgery requires specialized skill and expertise to preserve nerves that are critical for normal facial appearance and movement.
• Thyroid and parathyroid surgery: Our trained surgeons treat the full scope of thyroid and parathyroid tumors.
• Larynx (voice box) surgery: Treating voice box tumors may involve minimally invasive or other techniques. Our surgeons work with you, speech therapists and other cancer specialists to determine the right surgery for you.
• Neck dissection: This procedure safely removes lymph nodes in the neck. We often perform it at the same time as your primary cancer surgery.

Minimally invasive head and neck cancer surgery

Minimally invasive options include:

• Trans-oral laser microsurgery: This technique removes tumors using a laser cutting tool under a microscope. The microscopic approach enables precise movements that remove tumors while preserving healthy tissue.
• Trans-oral robotic surgery: Robotic technologies enable surgeons to safely remove cancer in hard-to-reach areas, such as the back of the throat, tonsils and base of the tongue. Find out more about trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS).

Reconstructive head and neck surgery

Depending on the cancer’s size and location, you may need a reconstructive procedure to restore the form and function of the important areas of your head and neck. Reconstructive surgery improves quality of life and supports rehabilitation after head and neck cancer treatments.

Get more information about reconstructive head and neck cancer surgery.

Skull base surgery

Cancers such as paranasal sinus cancer lie deep within the head near the eyes and skull base and require specialized care. Our trained sinus and skull base surgeons remove these cancers using leading techniques such as endoscopic sinus surgery. Find out more about paranasal sinus cancer.

For complex cases, skull base surgeons work with experienced neurosurgeons (brain specialists) and ophthalmologists (eye surgeons) as part of a specialized skull base surgical team.