Head and Neck Surgery

The Head and Neck Oncology Division of the UAB Department of Otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat) is among the largest of its kind in the United States. Our providers diagnose and treat tumors of 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, and we continue to be at the forefront of this growing area of head and neck surgery. Our robust endocrine program is active in managing diseases of the thyroid and parathyroid glands using minimally invasive surgical techniques.

UAB Head and Neck Oncology is part of the O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB, one of the original 13 centers in the United States designated by the National Cancer Institute. The broad, interdisciplinary team includes surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, dentists, prosthodontists, speech pathologists, nurses, and nutritionists. Because cancer care often involves multiple types of treatment delivered by various specialists at UAB and regionally, our full-time patient care coordinators help patients navigate the maze of appointments and specialists. Nursing coordinators assist patients each step of the way by providing education, resources, scheduling assistance, and contact information for questions or concerns that may arise during or after treatment.

Members of the UAB Head and Neck Oncology program are actively involved in research aimed at improving patient care. This includes laboratory-based research of new cancer treatments, investigation of 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, and public health projects designed to eliminate cancer disparities in underserved groups. In cooperation with the O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB, the Department of Otolaryngology participates in many multidisciplinary clinical trials as well. These include new therapies being tested in humans for the first time, as well as evaluating the benefits of therapies proven effective in the treatment of other types of cancer.