Diagnosing Head and Neck Cancer

During your first visit, you’ll meet with our head and neck cancer and reconstructive surgeon, who will review your medical and family history and evaluate any diagnostic testing needed.

Some head and neck cancers are more obvious, with symptoms that are hard to ignore. Others, however, are harder to detect. This is where our advanced imaging technology and radiologists, including neuroradiologists, shine. Crisp, clear images help our specialists pinpoint your cancer’s location, tumor cell type, and stage of growth. This lets us know whether your cancer has spread to nearby areas or to other parts of your body.

We also may take a biopsy (tumor sample) to learn more about your tumor. All this combines to give us the knowledge we need to design the right treatment plan for your specific cancer.

If you have already had a biopsy, our pathology team will review the results to validate the findings.

Our Premier Health team diagnoses and treats all types and stages of head and neck cancer and benign tumors. These cancers and tumors can start:

  • In the sinuses (the spaces around the nose on the inside of the skull)
  • Inside and behind the nose
  • In the mouth, including the tongue, the gums, and the roof of the mouth
  • In the back of the mouth and the throat (pharynx), which includes three sections called the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx
  • In the larynx (voice box)
  • On the lips
  • At the base of the skull, where the brain meets the face
  • Thyroid and parathyroid gland
  • Salivary glands, including the parotid gland, submandibular gland, and minor salivary glands
  • Skin cancers including squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, melanoma (including mucosal melanoma), merkel cell carcinoma, and any other rare skin lesion 

 

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The Premier Health Head and Neck Surgical Oncology and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery team is dedicated to providing compassionate, expert care tailored to your needs. Please contact us at (937) 208-6325(937) 208-6325 to speak with one of our team members or to schedule an appointment.