Head and Neck Oncology

Overview

• One of North Kerala’s most prominent and trusted centres for advanced head and neck cancer care.
• Recognised as the leading Head and Neck Surgical Oncology unit in the Malabar region.
• Referral destination for the most complex oncological cases from across Kerala and neighbouring states.
• Complete spectrum of cancer surgery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation offered under one roof.
• Built on a foundation of clinical excellence, surgical innovation, and outstanding patient outcomes.
• Every case reviewed in a structured multidisciplinary tumour board involving surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists, pathologists, and radiologists.
• Personalised, evidence-based treatment plans built around each patient’s disease profile and life goals.

Conditions Treated

The department manages the full range of malignancies that arise across the head and neck region — from early-stage lesions amenable to function-preserving surgery to locally advanced cancers requiring complex resection and reconstruction.

Cancers Managed

• Oral cavity cancers — tongue, lip, buccal mucosa, gingiva, palate, and floor of mouth
• Oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, and laryngeal cancers
• Salivary gland cancers — parotid, submandibular, and minor salivary gland tumours
• Thyroid and parathyroid malignancies
• Nasopharyngeal, paranasal sinus, and orbital cancers
• Cutaneous malignancies of the head and neck
• Cervical metastases of unknown primary

Premalignant & Functional Conditions

• Premalignant conditions of the oral cavity
• Oral submucous fibrosis
• Vascular malformations of the head and neck
• Trismus and other functionally limiting disorders

Advanced Onco-Surgical Procedures

The department performs the complete portfolio of high-end head and neck surgical oncology procedures — using both conventional and minimally invasive techniques — with a strong emphasis on oncological completeness and functional preservation.

Oral Cavity & Oropharyngeal Surgery

• Wide local excision of oral cavity cancers with marginal or segmental mandibulectomy
• Composite resections (commando procedures) for advanced oral and oropharyngeal cancers
• Total and partial glossectomy with microvascular free flap reconstruction
• Partial, total, and extended maxillectomy with prosthetic and flap rehabilitation

Laryngeal & Hypopharyngeal Surgery

• Total laryngectomy, near-total laryngectomy, and supracricoid partial laryngectomy
• Pharyngolaryngectomy with gastric pull-up or free jejunal flap reconstruction
• Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) for early laryngeal and pharyngeal cancers
• Structured voice rehabilitation following laryngeal surgery

Neck Dissection

• Functional and modified radical neck dissections (Levels I–V)
• Selective and extended neck dissections
• Central compartment neck dissection
• Sentinel lymph node biopsy for selected early oral cancers

Thyroid, Parathyroid & Salivary Gland Surgery

• Total thyroidectomy with central and lateral neck dissection for thyroid malignancies
• Parathyroidectomy with intraoperative parathyroid hormone monitoring
• Superficial, total, and radical parotidectomy with facial nerve preservation
• Submandibular gland excision and major salivary gland tumour surgery

Other Specialised Cancer Surgery

• Surgery for nasopharyngeal, paranasal sinus, and orbital malignancies
• Salvage surgery for recurrent and post-radiation head and neck cancers
• Surgery for cutaneous head and neck malignancies

Reconstructive & Microvascular Surgery

Restoration of form and function is integral to head and neck cancer care. The department offers the full spectrum of reconstructive options to ensure optimal post-operative quality of life.

Pedicled Flap Reconstruction

• Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap
• Deltopectoral flap
• Supraclavicular artery island flap
• Submental island flap

Microvascular Free Tissue Transfer

• Radial forearm free flap
• Anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap
• Fibula osteocutaneous free flap
• Latissimus dorsi free flap
• Free jejunal transfer for pharyngeal reconstruction

Specialised Reconstruction

• Mandibular reconstruction with vascularised fibula and patient-specific titanium plating
• Maxillary and midface reconstruction with obturators, free flaps, and prosthodontics
• Tongue and floor-of-mouth reconstruction for speech and swallowing preservation
• Voice restoration with tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) and prosthesis fitting

Skull Base & Temporal Bone Oncology

A recognised referral centre for highly complex skull base and lateral skull base oncological surgery — procedures that demand exceptional surgical expertise and seamless multidisciplinary collaboration.

• Lateral temporal bone resection and total petrosectomy for temporal bone malignancies
• Surgery for glomus tympanicum, glomus jugulare, and glomus vagale tumours
• Excision of benign and malignant skull base tumours (endoscopic and open approaches)
• Endoscopic transnasal and transsphenoidal skull base surgery
• Surgery for juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA)
• Infratemporal fossa approaches for deep-space tumours
• Acoustic neuroma and cerebellopontine angle tumour surgery (in collaboration with neurosurgery)
• CSF rhinorrhea repair (endoscopic and open techniques)

Integrated Multidisciplinary Cancer Care

Seamless integration of allied medical specialities under one roof — a coordinated team that begins at diagnosis and continues well beyond surgery.

Allied Clinical Specialities

• Medical Oncology — neoadjuvant, adjuvant, palliative chemotherapy, targeted and immunotherapy
• Radiation Oncology — IMRT, IGRT, and SBRT capabilities
• Surgical Pathology — frozen-section reporting and molecular diagnostics
• Diagnostic & Interventional Radiology — high-field MRI, multi-slice CT, PET-CT
• Nuclear Medicine — PET-CT staging, sentinel node mapping, radioiodine therapy
• Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery — collaborative microvascular reconstruction
• Neurosurgery — combined skull base and intracranial cases
• Maxillofacial Surgery & Dental Oncology — prosthetic rehabilitation and implants
• Anaesthesiology & Critical Care — dedicated head and neck anaesthesia expertise
• Pain & Palliative Care — comprehensive supportive care
• Endocrinology — thyroid and parathyroid disorders

Rehabilitation & Survivorship

Head and neck cancer treatment touches the most fundamental aspects of human life — speech, eating, breathing, and appearance. The department’s rehabilitation services address every dimension of recovery.

• Speech and language therapy — post-laryngectomy voice rehabilitation, articulation training, and post-operative communication
• Swallowing rehabilitation — fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) and structured dysphagia therapy
• Physiotherapy — shoulder rehabilitation post-neck dissection, lymphedema management, trismus exercises
• Clinical nutrition and dietetics — perioperative and long-term nutritional support, including enteral feeding management
• Psycho-oncology and counselling — emotional support for patients and families through every stage of the cancer journey
• Stoma and tracheostomy care — dedicated nursing support and home-care guidance
• Prosthodontic rehabilitation — maxillofacial prostheses, obturators, and dental implants
• Survivorship clinics — structured long-term follow-up and quality-of-life support

Academic Excellence & Surgical Training

• Structured Fellowship in Head and Neck Surgical Oncology offering intensive hands-on training in advanced cancer surgery.
• Fellowship curriculum covers ablative surgery, neck dissection, microvascular reconstruction, skull base approaches, and multidisciplinary cancer management.
• One of the few institutions in the region to formally train super-specialists in head and neck surgical oncology.
• Active contribution to peer-reviewed research and academic publications.
• Regular continuing medical education (CME) programmes, live surgical workshops, and cadaveric dissection courses.
• Faculty members are regular invited speakers at national and international conferences.

A Patient-Centred Philosophy

• Empathy, dignity, and shared decision-making at every stage of care.
• Recognition that head and neck cancer affects not only health but also speech, swallowing, appearance, and identity.
• Dedicated care navigator to coordinate appointments, address concerns, and ensure continuity of care.
• Structured follow-up protocols and access to support groups.
• Survivorship clinics to help patients return to fulfilling lives after treatment.

North Kerala’s Most Prominent Centre

• Unmatched surgical expertise across the full spectrum of head and neck oncology.
• Cutting-edge technology and advanced surgical infrastructure.
• Comprehensive multidisciplinary support across all allied and rehabilitation specialities.
• Unwavering commitment to compassionate, evidence-based, patient-centred care.

From routine cancer surgery to the most complex composite resections, microvascular reconstructions, and skull base procedures — setting the regional benchmark for head and neck surgical oncology.