The department of head and neck surgery was formerly the head and neck division of surgery department which was established in 1978. In 1988, the department of head and neck surgery was officially established, becoming one of the first of its kind in China. Under the leadership of director Liu Aihua and Wang Kejing, as well as with unremitting efforts of generations of head and neck surgeons, it has become the nationally influential diagnosis and treatment center of head and neck cancer ever since, with the most abundant comprehensive strength in Zhejiang. At present, the department of head and neck surgery has become the affiliated unit of China Association for the International Exchanges of Healthcare Services Thyroid Disease Division vice chairman, China Medical Education Association Head and Neck Cancer Special Committee vice chairman, Zhejiang Anti-cancer Association Otorhinolaryngology Special Committee chairman, Zhejiang Rehabilitation Medical Association Thyroid Disease Special Committee chairman and Zhejiang Mathematical Medicine Association Thyroid Oncology Special Committee chairman.

Currently, our department consists of 3 clinical units, with 156 hospital beds and 26 clinicians. There are 12 clinicians of senior professional title, 7 of doctor degree and 16 of master degree. Our department has been engaged in the surgical and comprehensive treatment of thyroid, oral and maxillofacial, otorhinolaryngology, and other head and neck cancers. The annual amount of outpatient service is exceeding 40,000 person-time and the annual amount of surgery is exceeding 4,500 person-time.

specialties and achievements

We have accumulated a wealth of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer and established a multidisciplinary team (MDT) diagnosis and treatment system. We follow the forefront of international development closely with constant innovation and development, focus on both survival and quality of life in cancer treatment, and implement standardized, accurate and individualized cancer treatment principle strictly.

1.Thyroid cancer: On the basis of standardized treatment, radical resection and reconstruction of cancer-invaded digestive tract, respiratory tract and mediastinum have been carried out on the treatment of advanced thyroid cancer, and abundant experience has been accumulated. Low neck incision and multifunctional retention of lateral neck dissection have been carried out. Endoscopic radical thyroidectomy through axillary incision without gas charging, regular endoscopic radical thyroidectomy and endoscopic lateral neck dissection have been carried out. Extensive experience has been gained in recurrent laryngeal nerve detection and retention, as well as in parathyroid protection using negative imaging method.

2. Oral and maxillofacial cancer: We use various types of flap in reconstruction in oral and maxillofacial cancer surgery, including pectoralis major myocutaneous flap, forearm flap, sternocleidomastoid muscle flap, lateral femoral flap and fibular flap. We play a leading role in China in areas of computer aided reconstruction of soft tissue (CARST) and minimal invasive surgery of cN0 oral cancer.

3. Otorhinolaryngologic cancer: Laryngeal functional preservation and vocal reconstruction have been extensively carried out in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer. Minimally invasive CO2 laser-aided surgery has been carried out in early laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer. Reconstructions using varieties of free muscle flap, free jejunum and adjacent flap have been extensively conducted in advanced or radiotherapy and chemotherapy failed laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer. For cervical esophageal cancer, gastric replacement of esophagus is conducted. Endoscopic surgeries for nasal cavity and paranasal sinus benign tumor as well as early malignant tumor have been carried out. The nasal endoscopic technique has also been applied to salvage surgery of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and achieved improved effect.

4. Other head and neck caner: With the cooperation of Neurosurgery Department, we carried out the extensive removal of anterior, middle and lateral skull base tumor and skull base reconstruction in 90s, a pioneering work in Zhejiang at that time. In recent years, accurate reconstruction of jaws has been carried out based on 3D printing technology.

Scientific researching and clinical teaching

We are undertaking and presiding over dozens of foundations and projects, including 1 item of National Natural Science Foundation, 6 items of Zhejiang Natural Science Foundation and 6 items of Zhejiang Medical and Health Science and Technology Project. In 2018, Key Laboratory of Head and Neck Cancer Translational Research of Zhejiang Province was established, which was the first provincial key laboratory of head and neck cancer in China. We undertake multi-level teaching task aiming at postgraduate, undergraduate and continuing education clinician. We have sponsored a number of international and domestic academic conferences. In 2015, we were awarded the "outstanding contribution award" by Chinese Anti-cancer Association Head and Neck Cancer Special Committee. We hold multiple training classes annually, such as standardized diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer and surgery training, gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy via axillary approach surgery training, diagnosis and treatment of complicated thyroid carcinoma and new development training, et cetera. We have conducted or participated in a number of international or domestic multi-center clinical trials of advanced thyroid cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma as head of the overall project or sub center, carrying forward the development of head and neck cancer treatment in china.

Last Updated: Mar. 2020