The head and neck region is where some of the most essential human functions reside — the ability to speak, to breathe, to swallow, to smile, and to be seen and heard by the world. When cancer arises in this region, it does not just threaten life. It threatens identity, communication, and the quality of everyday living. That is precisely why Head and Neck Oncosurgery exists as a distinct, highly specialised surgical discipline — one that demands not just technical mastery, but a deep commitment to preserving what makes each patient uniquely human.

At Fortis Healthcare, the Department of Head and Neck Oncosurgery brings together some of India's most experienced surgical oncologists, supported by a world-class multidisciplinary team, to deliver cancer care that is as focused on function and form as it is on cure.

What Is Head and Neck Oncosurgery?

Head and Neck Oncosurgery is a specialised branch of cancer surgery wherein malignancies arising from the mouth, throat, voice box, neck, face, nose and paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx, skull base, ear canal and temporal bone, parotid and other salivary glands, thyroid and parathyroid glands, bones, nerves and blood vessels of the neck, and skin of the head and neck area — including melanoma — are diagnosed and treated.

This super-specialty has grown in importance for two critical reasons. Head and neck cancers frequently arise due to tobacco and alcohol use, which is extremely prevalent in India from a very young age — meaning the majority of affected patients are economically productive individuals in the prime of their lives. Additionally, these cancers arise in areas that directly affect talking, chewing, swallowing, voice, breathing, and appearance — functions central to daily living and quality of life. 

This dual burden — life-threatening disease in function-critical anatomy — is what makes Head and Neck Oncosurgery one of the most demanding and consequential surgical specialties in cancer care.

Cancers Treated

The scope of this specialty is broad, covering malignancies across a wide anatomical territory:

• Oral Cavity Cancers — cancers of the lips, tongue, cheek lining, floor of mouth, hard palate, and gums
• Oropharyngeal Cancers — cancers of the soft palate, tonsils, back of tongue, and posterior pharyngeal wall
• Laryngeal Cancer — cancer of the voice box (larynx), affecting speech and breathing
• Hypopharyngeal Cancer — cancer of the lower part of the throat, often presenting at an advanced stage
• Nasopharyngeal Cancer — cancer arising in the uppermost part of the throat, behind the nose
• Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Cancers — including cancers of the maxillary, ethmoid, and frontal sinuses
• Salivary Gland Tumours — cancers of the parotid, submandibular, and minor salivary glands
• Thyroid and Parathyroid Cancers — including papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic thyroid carcinomas
• Skull Base Tumours — complex tumours at the interface of the brain and the head and neck
• Skin Cancers of the Head and Neck — including melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers in this region
• Cervical Lymph Node Metastases — cancer spread to lymph nodes in the neck from a primary head or neck site

Surgical Procedures: Precision at Every Level

The range of Head and Neck surgeries is vast and can be tailored to suit the disease stage and the patient's individual requirements. Special techniques such as endoscopic surgeries, microscopic laser surgeries, open conventional surgeries, and robotic surgeries may be used depending on the clinical situation.

Key surgical procedures include:

• Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) — A minimally invasive surgery to remove oropharyngeal cancers, including tonsil cancer, combining three-dimensional imaging with tiny robotic surgical instruments. TORS allows surgeons to access tumours deep within the throat without external incisions, significantly reducing recovery time and preserving function. 
• Laser Microsurgery — Using high-precision laser energy guided through a microscope and endoscope, surgeons remove laryngeal and pharyngeal tumours with minimal damage to surrounding tissue — often preserving the voice in early-stage laryngeal cancer.
• Neck Dissection — When cancer has spread to the lymph nodes of the neck, a neck dissection is performed — either selectively or radically — to remove affected nodes. Modern nerve-sparing techniques minimise disruption to shoulder and neck function. 
• Total and Partial Laryngectomy — For advanced laryngeal cancers, partial or total removal of the voice box may be necessary. Voice rehabilitation through tracheo-oesophageal speech, oesophageal speech, or electronic voice aids is an integral part of the recovery plan.
• Skull Base Surgery — Complex tumours at the skull base require exceptional surgical planning and a collaborative approach between Head and Neck surgeons and neurosurgeons. Intraoperative MRI may be used during skull-base surgeries to view real-time images of the tumour, ensuring complete removal while patients are still under anaesthesia. 
• Reconstructive and Microvascular Surgery — One of the most transformative advances in modern Head and Neck Oncosurgery is the ability to rebuild what must be removed. Reconstructive surgery for head and neck cancer usually involves the transplantation of tissue from one part of the body to the affected area through a microsurgical approach called free tissue transfer — where a plastic surgeon transfers a piece of the patient's own tissue, along with its blood vessels, to repair the surgical site. This may involve skin, muscle, bone, or a combination — restoring appearance and function with remarkable precision. 

A Multidisciplinary Approach: More Than Just Surgery

Head and neck cancer care is never a one-specialist effort. Because head and neck cancer patients often face challenging side effects and complications from treatment, the multidisciplinary team includes specialists in otolaryngology, head and neck surgery, plastic surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, nutrition, and other supportive care services.

Every patient's case is reviewed in a dedicated Multidisciplinary Tumour Board — where surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, speech therapists, dietitians, and psycho-oncologists together determine the most effective, function-preserving treatment plan.

Radiation oncology and chemotherapy play a central role alongside surgery. Chemotherapy in combination with radiotherapy is now the standard of care for patients with locally advanced disease, either as a primary treatment or after surgical resection. Targeted therapies and immunotherapy are also increasingly being incorporated into treatment plans

Rehabilitation — speech therapy, swallowing therapy, nutritional support, and psychological counselling — begins from the day of diagnosis and continues long after treatment concludes.

Why Early Diagnosis Changes Everything

The vast majority of head and neck cancers are highly curable when detected early. A persistent mouth ulcer, a painless neck lump, a change in voice lasting more than three weeks, difficulty swallowing, or a non-healing wound in the oral cavity are symptoms that must never be ignored.

Our treatment philosophy is based on a multidisciplinary team approach emphasising organ preservation and restoration of form and function through advanced reconstructive surgery and rehabilitative services.

At Fortis Healthcare, every patient who walks through our doors with a head or neck cancer diagnosis is met with the full force of our clinical expertise, our technology, and our commitment — to not just add years to their life, but to preserve the life in those years.