Head and neck region
1. What does head and neck region mean?
The facial skeleton and the neck.
The facial skeleton comprises of the front portion of the face with its bones and sinuses.
The neck is the bridge between the head and the rest of the body. Structures contained within the neck are responsible for breathing , speaking , swallowing, circulatory and lymphatic inflow and outflow and also the regulation of metabolism through various hormones.
2. Is brain and spine same as head and neck?
No.
Brain and Spine is a neurological organ which is a specialization of neurologist and neurosurgeons and orthopedician specialized in spine. Head and neck diseases are treated by Ear ,Nose, Throat Surgeon specialized in head and neck oncology.
3. What conditions does a head and neck surgeon treat?
A head and neck surgeon treats conditions affecting the nose and paranasal sinuses,mouth, throat,glands in the head and neck region. They are trained to treat both benign (Non cancerous) and malignant (Cancerous tumors in the head and neck region.
4. What are the common symptoms and signs of problems in Head and Neck region ?
- Chronic sore throat
- Lump or mass in the head and neck region (can be painful or painless)
- Change in voice
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Non healing ulcer in the mouth throat
- Bleeding from the nose or persistent nose block
- Loosening of teeth
- Blood in saliva or phlegm
- Ear pain
- Red or white patches in the mouth
5. How is the condition affecting the head and neck region treated ?
- Infection and inflammatory conditions are treated by appropriate medications.
- The head and neck surgeon might ask for a biopsy test or FNAC test to diagnose the problem.
- Treatment is according to the histopathological diagnosis.Surgery is commonly indicated and is curative in early disease
6. What are the common surgeries done by a head and neck surgeon?
- Lymph node biopsy and excision.
- Thyroidectomy.
- parotidectomy
- Sub-mandibular gland excision.
- Thyroglossal cyst excision.
- Neck dissection.
- Wide local excision of cancerous lesions affecting the oral cavity, throat and nose with adjacent involved removal of bone and reconstruction.
- Tracheostomy.
- Laser surgery.
- Microlaryngoscopy and removal.
- Robotic surgery.
- Phonosurger
- phagosurgery.