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Ear, Nose & Throat Associates |
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ENT Head and Neck Services
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 HEAD AND NECK CANCER
Tumors of the head and neck area affect 55,ooo Americans annually and may develop in the voice box, upper esophagus, oral cavity, salivary tissue, neck, or thyroid gland. Symptoms of head and neck cancer may include: persistent hoarseness, ear pain, swallowing problems, weight loss, bringing up blood, pain with swallowing, skin changes, or a growth in the oral cavity. If you notice one of these symptoms, it is important to promptly schedule an appointment with an ENT physician who will perform a careful head and neck examination.
If an abnormality is apparent, then your physician will discuss arranging a biopsy and possibly a fine needle aspiration, which is a relatively painless procedure to sample cells from a neck mass, thyroid gland or salivary gland. Evaluation of tissue samples by a pathologist will verify the diagnosis; your ENT doctor may also recommend other X-ray studies such as an MRI, CT, or PET scan to provide more detailed information about the tumor's extent. Increasingly, tumors of the head and neck regions can be successfully treated, if diagnosed early. The physicians at Ear, Nose and Throat Associates of San Mateo will work closely with an oncologist and/or radiation therapist to ensure that you receive the best possible compassionate care, using a multidisciplinary approach.
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Additional information:
Head and Neck Cancer (American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery)
Fine Needle Aspiration (AAO - HNS)
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 THYROID TUMORS
The thyroid gland is a "bow tie" shaped structure that overlies the trachea and helps regulate the body's metabolism. Occasionally, growths can develop in the thyroid gland which might be felt as a lump by an individual or by their primary care provider. Fortunately, the majority of growths within the thyroid gland are non-cancerous, or benign. Risk factors for thyroid cancer include a family history of thyroid cancer or a history of exposure to excessive radiation. Symptoms of thyroid cancer include: a lump in the thyroid gland, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness and/or throat discomfort.
If you have any of these symptoms, you should pursue an evaluation by an ENT physician who will examine your thyroid gland and may suggest further tests such as an ultrasound examination of the thyroid, which may also include a fine needle aspiration of the gland. Should surgery be required, the doctors at Ear, Nose and Throat Associates have considerable experience in managing thyroid tumors. To ensure the safety of thyroid surgery and to minimize the risk of a vocal cord injury (a known risk from this surgery), our physician group uses contemporary laryngeal nerve monitoring at the time of thyroid surgery. We also work closely with San Mateo community endocrinologists and radiation therapists to provide comprehensive care for thyroid cancer patients.
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Additional information:
Thyroid Gland (AAO - HNS)
NIM facial nerve and recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring (Medtronics Website)
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SALIVARY GLAND TUMORS
The major salivary gland include the parotid, submandibular and sublingual glands. These structures secrete saliva into the mouth and protect dental health. Most tumors of the salivary glands are benign and respond to surgery. Symptoms of a salivary gland tumor include a growth that can be palpated, pain in a salivary gland, and in more aggressive malignant tumors, weakness of facial movement.
If you or your family doctor suspects that you have a growth in a salivary gland, we recommend an ENT evaluation. Your otolaryngologist will examine the gland and neck lymph nodes and may suggest a fine needle aspiration study to collect cells from the growth that can be examined microscopically by a pathologist to determine the nature of the tumor. Your physican may also request special scans such as an MRI or CT scan to better examine the growth. Depending on the type of tumor, surgery may be advised. The physicians at Ear, Nose and Throat Associates have considerable experience with salivary gland surgery and take the extra precaution of using facial nerve monitoring for some types of salivary gland surgery to minimize any risk to the facial nerve. If radiation therapy is required, then we will work closely with our radiation oncology colleagues to ensure that a patient receives comprehensive cancer care.
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Additional information:
Salivary Glands (AAO - HNS)
NIM facial nerve monitoring (Medtronics Website)
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LARYNGEAL (VOICE BOX) CANCER
Cancer of the larynx (voicebox) is associated with a history of tobacco and alcohol abuse. Symptoms of throat cancer include, hoarseness, pain with swallowing, bringing up blood, a lump in the neck, or ear pain. If you develop any of these symptoms, a comprehensive evaluation by an otolaryngologist is extremely important. An ENT doctor will carefully examine your larynx and neck. If an abnormal growth is noted, then your physician will order a MRI, CT and/or PET scan. Your physician will also recommend an examination of your throat under general anesthesia (laryngoscopy) and will perform a biopsy of the lesion. Many throat cancers are treatable and, increasingly, non-surgical approaches using focused radiation therapy (intensity modulated radiotherapy or IMRT) with or without chemotherapy successfully control these cancers. The physicians at Ear, Nose and Throat Associates are experienced with managing throat cancers using surgical and non-surgical approaches and will work closely with radiation therapy and oncology physicians to ensure that you receive comprehensive cancer treatment.
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Additional information:
Laryngeal (Voice Box) Cancer (AAO - HNS)
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100 South Ellsworth Avenue, Suite 308, San Mateo CA 94401
tel 650/344 6896 fax 650/344 2794
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805 Veterans Boulevard, Suite 115, Redwood City CA 94063
tel 650/369 1619 fax 650/474 2997
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