Anatomy · Plate I

The regions of the head and neck

Oral cavity (mouth)The lips, the front of the tongue, the floor of the mouth, the gums, the cheeks and the hard palate.
Pharynx (throat)The passage behind the nose and mouth that leads down to the gullet: the nasopharynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx.
Larynx (voice box)At the top of the windpipe; it holds the vocal cords.
Salivary glandsThe parotid gland in front of the ear and the submandibular gland under the jaw, drawn in dashed outline because they lie to the side.
Thyroid glandIn the lower front of the neck, in front of the windpipe.
Lymph nodes of the neckSmall glands along the neck to which cancers of the head and neck can spread.

Simplified drawing, not to scale.

Cancers of the head and neck start in the mouth, throat, voice box, nose and sinuses, salivary glands, thyroid, or in the skin and lymph nodes of the neck. Surgery is often the central part of their treatment, and it is the field Prof. Dr. Günter Hafız has worked in since the early years of his career.

What it is

Head and neck cancer surgery removes a tumour together with a margin of healthy tissue around it and, when needed, the lymph nodes of the neck to which it may have spread. The region is small and full of the structures used for breathing, speaking, swallowing and facial expression, so planning is as important as the operation itself. Depending on the site and stage of the tumour (how far it has grown and spread), surgery can be the only treatment needed, or it can be combined with radiotherapy or chemotherapy before or afterwards.

Who it is for

Adults with a cancer of the mouth, tongue, throat, voice box, salivary glands, thyroid or neck, whether newly diagnosed, returned after earlier treatment, or suspected because of a lump or a lesion that has not healed.

Symptoms and diagnosis

Common warning signs are a sore or ulcer in the mouth that does not heal within a few weeks, a lump in the neck, persistent hoarseness, difficulty or pain on swallowing, one-sided ear pain without an ear infection, or blood in the saliva. Diagnosis rests on examination of the mouth and throat, often with a thin flexible endoscope; on imaging such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or PET; and on a biopsy, a small tissue sample examined under the microscope. Together these establish the type of tumour and its stage, which guide the treatment plan.

How the operation is done

The operation is performed under general anaesthesia. The approach depends on where the tumour is. Some tumours of the throat and voice box can be removed through the mouth with a laser and a microscope, leaving no external incision; others require an incision in the neck. Lymph nodes are removed through a neck dissection when there is a risk of spread. When a large area must be removed, tissue from elsewhere in the body can be transferred to rebuild the defect in the same operation (microvascular reconstruction), so that swallowing, speech and appearance are restored as far as possible. The removed tissue is examined by a pathologist, and the final report completes the picture of what further treatment, if any, is needed.

Recovery

The first days are spent in hospital, where breathing, swallowing and the wound are watched closely. Depending on the operation, a temporary feeding tube or a temporary breathing opening in the neck may be needed while healing progresses. Swallowing and speech therapy often start early. Most people return to normal eating and daily life over several weeks. Follow-up visits continue at regular intervals for years, because finding any recurrence early matters.

How Prof. Hafız works

Prof. Hafız has been a specialist in ear, nose and throat surgery since 1994 and a professor at Istanbul University since 2006, with head and neck cancer surgery, transoral laser surgery, airway surgery and microvascular reconstruction among his focus areas. He is a founding member of the Head and Neck Cancer Society and a member of the European Head and Neck Society and the International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies. Each diagnosis and treatment plan is explained until you and your family feel informed and supported.

References

Cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract: assessment and management in people aged 16 or over, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE guideline NG36) (2016) — nice.org.uk · Accessed 2026-10-08
Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, larynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx: EHNS⁠–⁠ESMO⁠–⁠ESTRO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up, Annals of Oncology (2020) — doi:10.1016/j.annonc.2020.07.011
Head and Neck Cancers, National Cancer Institute (2021) — cancer.gov · Accessed 2026-10-08
Symptoms of mouth cancer, NHS — nhs.uk · Accessed 2026-10-09
Symptoms of laryngeal cancer, NHS — nhs.uk · Accessed 2026-10-09
Suspected cancer: recognition and referral (NG12), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2015) — nice.org.uk · Accessed 2026-10-09

What to expect

Before

A consultation with your reports, pathology results and imaging.
Examination of the mouth and throat, often with a thin endoscope; scans and a biopsy establish the type and stage of the tumour.

On the day

General anaesthesia; the approach depends on where the tumour is: through the mouth, or through an incision in the neck.
When needed, the lymph nodes and a reconstruction in the same operation.

After

The first days in hospital, with breathing, swallowing and the wound watched closely.
Swallowing and speech therapy often start early; eating and daily life return to normal over several weeks.
Follow-up visits at regular intervals for years.

Questions patients ask

Is surgery always the first treatment?

Not always. Depending on the site and stage of the tumour, treatment may be surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or a combination, in an order decided for each person. Prof. Hafız explains which options apply to you and why.

Will I be able to speak and swallow after the operation?

Preserving speech and swallowing is one of the main goals when an operation is planned. What can be preserved depends on where the tumour is and how far it has spread; this is discussed openly before you decide.

What should I bring to the first consultation?

Any biopsy or pathology report, imaging such as CT, MRI or PET scans with their written reports, a list of your medicines and a summary of your previous treatment.