Diagnosis & Treatment of Head Cancer & Neck Cancer

University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center Offers the Latest Medical Advancements in Diagnosing and Treating Cancers of the Head and Neck

UH Seidman Cancer Center is at the forefront in the diagnosis, treatment and research of head and neck cancers. Part of the National Cancer Institute-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, UH Seidman Cancer Center is one of an elite group of 41 comprehensive cancer hospitals nationwide.

Head and neck cancers we treat include the following:

• Eye cancer
• Lip & oral cancer
• Nasal & sinus cancer
• Salivary gland cancer
• Throat cancer (hypopharyngeal, nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal)
• Thyroid cancer
• Tonsil cancer
• Voice box cancer

Continuing Leadership in Technology and Technique

Head and neck cancer treatment at UH Seidman Cancer Center includes a record of innovations and firsts that make a difference in patients’ lives.

• Our teams are leaders in establishing the comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to treating head and neck cancers.
• UH Seidman Cancer Center remains the only hospital in Northeast Ohio to offer Intraoperative Electron Radiation Therapy (IOERT), which is precise radiation delivered during surgery.

As this leadership continues today, we proudly offer the following advanced treatment options for head and neck cancer patients:

• Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) involves using computers to precisely shape and aim radiation doses, preventing healthy tissue from being destroyed.
• Reconstructive surgery includes sophisticated techniques for microvascular free-tissue transfer-the use of tissue from elsewhere in the body to replace the cancerous tissue that was removed. These techniques have vastly improved quality of life by maintaining or improving both form and function after ablative surgical procedures.
• Positron emission tomography (PET) provides an accurate, fast diagnosis and effective monitoring of a patient’s progress after treatment.
• Intraoperative Electron Radiation Therapy (IOERT) enables the precise delivery of radiation in the operating room to address areas of concern.
• Cytoprotective agents prevent some of the effects of radiotherapy or combined chemo-radiotherapy.
• Photodynamic therapy uses laser light to create singlet oxygen to destroy cancer cells. It is a powerful and fast-acting weapon against cancer.
• Endoscopic surgery enables surgeons to operate on throat cancers without a neck incision; instead, a thin tube called an endoscope is inserted into the mouth to expose the throat. A microscope allows the surgeon to see the tumor and use a laser to perform the operation.
• Transoral robotic surgery (TORS), which is now approved by the Federal Drug Administration for certain cancers in the throat, improves both access and visualization of certain tumors.
• Proton therapy is a targeted radiation therapy that allows for more powerful treatment capabilities with fewer side effects.
• Access to promising new trials and drugs