Head and Neck Surgery

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Head and Neck Surgery

The Head and Neck Oncology Division of the UAB Department of Otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat, or ENT) is among the largest of its kind in the United States. Our providers diagnose and treat tumors in the head and neck. This includes tumors in the oral cavity, oropharynx (throat), larynx (voice box), sinuses, skull base, salivary glands, and skin.

UAB was among the first hospitals nationally to offer robot-assisted resection of head and neck tumors, an area in which we still lead. Our endocrine program uses minimally invasive surgical techniques to manage diseases of the thyroid and parathyroid glands.

UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center

UAB Head and Neck Oncology is part of the UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, one of the original 13 centers in the United States designated by the National Cancer Institute. Cancer care may involve multiple types of treatment delivered by various specialists, including:

Surgeons
Radiation oncologists
Medical oncologists
Pathologists
Radiologists
Dentists
Prosthodontists
Speech pathologists
Nurses
Nutritionists

Our full-time oncology-trained care guides help patients navigate the maze of appointments and specialists. Each patient is also paired with an oncology nurse navigator who provides education, resources, scheduling assistance, contact information, and more.

Members of the UAB Head and Neck Oncology program conduct research aimed at improving patient care, including:

Laboratory research of new cancer treatments
Investigating improved methods of tumor detection
Clinical trials designed to improve cure rates and minimize side effects
New gene delivery therapies
Studies to improve quality of life following cancer treatment
Public health projects designed to eliminate cancer disparities in underserved groups

In cooperation with the UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Department of Otolaryngology also participates in many clinical trials. These include trials for new therapies being tested in humans for the first time and trials evaluating the benefits of therapies proven effective in the treatment of other types of cancer.

Otolaryngology Clinic

The UAB Medicine Otolaryngology Clinic provides complete management of allergy conditions involving the ears, nose, sinuses, mouth, throat, and neck. Our staff includes some of the nation’s most skilled physicians and surgeons – many of whom are fellowship-trained. Our ENT program is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best of its kind in the country.

In addition to allergy testing and treatment, the clinic offers care for conditions such as: