Surgery for Head and Neck Cancer
A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Therapy".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 10
Special Issue Editors
Interests: otolaryngology; head and neck surgery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
2. Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Interests: head and neck cancer; surgery
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Surgery remains a cornerstone in the multidisciplinary management of head and neck cancer, playing a critical role in diagnosis, staging, local tumor control, and functional rehabilitation. Advances in surgical techniques, imaging, and perioperative care have significantly improved oncologic outcomes while prioritizing preservation of speech, swallowing, breathing, and appearance. Contemporary head and neck oncologic surgery encompasses a wide spectrum of approaches, ranging from traditional open resections to minimally invasive techniques such as transoral robotic surgery (TORS), transoral laser microsurgery (TLM), and endoscopic skull base surgery.
The integration of surgery with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy has enabled the development of personalized treatment strategies tailored to tumor biology, stage, and patient-specific factors. Reconstruction has evolved in parallel, with microvascular free tissue transfer and advanced reconstructive algorithms allowing for the restoration of complex anatomical defects and an improved quality of life. Additionally, sentinel lymph node biopsy and selective neck dissection have refined cervical management, reducing morbidity without compromising oncologic safety.
Ongoing research focuses on optimizing surgical margins, reducing treatment-related toxicity, and incorporating novel technologies such as navigation systems, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence. Together, these developments highlight the dynamic role of surgery in achieving durable disease control while enhancing functional and aesthetic outcomes for patients with head and neck cancer.
Dr. Boban M. Erovic
Dr. Blazen Marijic
Dr. Stefan Grasl
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- head and neck cancer
- oncologic surgery
- minimally invasive surgery
- transoral robotic surgery
- neck dissection
- reconstructive surgery
- multidisciplinary treatment
- functional outcomes
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