Head and Neck Surgery

Why choose Geisinger for head and neck surgery?

When you come here for head and neck cancer care, you'll have a team that works across clinics and departments, meeting weekly to personalize your treatment. Because head and neck cancers, when caught early, are often treatable and curable.

With our team on your side, you'll have access to clinical research trials, nurse navigators, specialty-trained doctors, certified physician assistants and speech and language pathology specialists. This holistic care means you have support through every part of your treatment, from diagnosis through recovery.

And your care isn't limited to 1 facility. You'll have access to clinics at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, where you can work with several specialists at once to find the right treatment for you.

Conditions we treat

Related specialties

FAQs

What’s head and neck surgery?

Head and neck surgery treats conditions affecting the mouth, head, throat, glands and sinuses. It’s also used for benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) tumors in the head and neck region. Head and neck surgery may also include reconstructive surgery, which doctors perform to restore appearance or function after an injury or medical condition.

What types of head and neck surgery do you perform?

Some of the common head and neck surgeries we perform include:

Head and neck cancer surgery
Head and neck reconstructive surgery
Robotic surgery
Salivary gland surgery
Thyroid surgery

What’s the thyroid?

The thyroid is a small gland at the base of your neck that plays a role in hormone production throughout your body. If you have benign or malignant tumors of the thyroid gland, your doctor may refer you to an ENT specialist for surgery.

What are the symptoms of thyroid disease?

Some thyroid diseases may not cause noticeable problems. But talk to your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms:

Heart pounding
Irritability
Muscle weakness
Nervousness
Sudden weight loss or weight gain
Swelling in your neck
Trouble breathing or swallowing
Trouble sleeping

What are the symptoms of salivary gland tumors?

Symptoms of salivary gland tumors, including tumors of the parotid gland, include:

A lump or swelling around your jaw, neck or mouth
Difficulty swallowing
Muscle weakness on one side of your face
Numbness or pain in part of your face or near a salivary gland

While a lump or swelling is the most common sign of a parotid tumor, these symptoms don’t necessarily mean you have a cancerous tumor. In fact, salivary gland tumors are rare — and many are benign. Reach out to your doctor if you notice any symptoms.

What type of head and neck reconstructive surgery do you offer?

We offer a range of head and neck reconstructive surgeries, including:

Jaw and facial bone reconstruction
Pediatric reconstructive surgery
Reanimation of face paralysis
Reconstruction of nose, mouth and ears
Skin grafting
Tissue replacement

What’s robotic surgery?

Robotic surgery uses 3-D video monitoring and robotic arms to perform procedures with smaller incisions. That means less pain, fewer complications and a potentially shorter hospital stay for you.

What are the types of head and neck cancer?

There are many types of head and neck cancer. Some of the most common include:

How do you treat head and neck cancer?

Your doctor may use surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy — or a combination of them — as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

ENT specialists use the latest techniques, including minimally invasive surgery, to treat head and neck cancer. Here, your surgeons are experienced, and many have advanced training in specific types of cancer surgery.