Head & Neck Cancer at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center | CMCS

China's Premier Center for Head & Neck Cancer Surgery

The Department of Head and Neck Surgery at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC) is consistently ranked as one of China's top head and neck cancer surgical programs, with a national and international reputation for excellence in the surgical management of thyroid cancer, oral cavity cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, laryngeal cancer, hypopharyngeal cancer, salivary gland tumors, and skull base tumors. With one of the highest volumes of head and neck cancer surgery in China, the department combines surgical excellence with a world-class research program and a fully integrated multidisciplinary approach to deliver outstanding outcomes for patients with all stages of head and neck cancer.

For international patients with head and neck cancer — whether seeking surgical treatment, a second opinion, access to clinical trials, or expert management of a complex or recurrent tumor — FUSCC's head and neck surgery department offers an unparalleled combination of expertise, volume, and research leadership. China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) provides seamless end-to-end coordination for international patients throughout their care journey at FUSCC.

About the Department

FUSCC's head and neck surgery department is a national key clinical specialty performing thousands of head and neck cancer operations annually. The department operates dedicated head and neck surgical wards, a comprehensive outpatient head and neck oncology clinic, a thyroid cancer center, a head and neck cancer MDT, a skull base surgery program, and works in close collaboration with radiation oncology, medical oncology, pathology, radiology, nuclear medicine, and reconstructive surgery through a fully integrated multidisciplinary team.

Faculty members publish regularly in leading head and neck oncology journals including Journal of Clinical Oncology, Annals of Oncology, Head & Neck, Thyroid, Oral Oncology, and Cancer.

Conditions Treated

Thyroid Cancer

• Papillary Thyroid Cancer (PTC) — Risk-stratified surgical management; hemithyroidectomy for low-risk PTC; total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection for intermediate/high-risk disease; active surveillance for very low-risk microPTC; radioiodine ablation coordination
• Follicular Thyroid Cancer — Total thyroidectomy and radioiodine therapy; risk-stratified follow-up
• Medullary Thyroid Cancer (MTC) — Total thyroidectomy with central and lateral neck dissection; RET mutation testing; vandetanib, cabozantinib, and selpercatinib for advanced MTC
• Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer (ATC) — Multimodality treatment; BRAF V600E-targeted therapy (dabrafenib + trametinib) for BRAF-mutated ATC; pembrolizumab; radiation therapy
• RAI-Refractory Differentiated Thyroid Cancer — Lenvatinib, sorafenib; selpercatinib for RET-mutated; larotrectinib for NTRK-fused; dabrafenib + trametinib for BRAF V600E-mutated
• Recurrent & Metastatic Thyroid Cancer — Re-operative neck surgery; systemic therapy; SBRT for oligometastatic disease
• Thyroid Cancer in Pregnancy — Risk-stratified management; surgical timing optimization

Oral Cavity Cancer

• Tongue Cancer — Transoral resection for early disease; composite resection with neck dissection for advanced disease; free flap reconstruction (radial forearm, ALT, fibula)
• Floor of Mouth Cancer — Surgical resection with mandibulectomy if required; free flap reconstruction
• Buccal Mucosa Cancer — Surgical resection; adjuvant radiation for high-risk features
• Gingival & Hard Palate Cancer — Maxillectomy and mandibulectomy with prosthetic or free flap reconstruction
• Lip Cancer — Surgical resection with lip reconstruction
• Oral Cavity Premalignant Lesions — Leukoplakia, erythroplakia, and oral submucous fibrosis; surgical excision and surveillance

Oropharyngeal Cancer

• HPV-Positive Oropharyngeal Cancer — Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) for early disease; de-escalation treatment strategies; chemoradiation for advanced disease
• HPV-Negative Oropharyngeal Cancer — Surgery and/or chemoradiation; intensified treatment for high-risk disease
• Tonsil & Base of Tongue Cancer — Transoral approaches; neck dissection; free flap reconstruction

Laryngeal & Hypopharyngeal Cancer

• Early Laryngeal Cancer — Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) for voice preservation; radiation therapy
• Advanced Laryngeal Cancer — Organ preservation with concurrent chemoradiation; total laryngectomy with tracheoesophageal voice restoration for radiation failures
• Hypopharyngeal Cancer — Chemoradiation for organ preservation; pharyngolaryngectomy with free jejunal or ALT flap reconstruction for advanced disease
• Voice Rehabilitation — Tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) and voice prosthesis after laryngectomy

Salivary Gland Tumors

• Parotid Tumors — Superficial and total parotidectomy with facial nerve preservation; facial nerve monitoring; free flap reconstruction for extensive resections
• Submandibular & Sublingual Gland Tumors — Surgical excision with margin control
• Minor Salivary Gland Tumors — Surgical resection; adjuvant radiation for high-grade histology
• Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma — Wide surgical resection; adjuvant radiation; systemic therapy for metastatic disease
• Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma — Risk-stratified surgical management

Nasopharyngeal Cancer (NPC)

• Early NPC — Radiation therapy with excellent cure rates; IMRT for normal tissue sparing
• Locally Advanced NPC — Concurrent chemoradiation (cisplatin + IMRT); induction chemotherapy (gemcitabine + cisplatin) for high-risk disease
• Recurrent NPC — Endoscopic nasopharyngectomy for local recurrence; re-irradiation; camrelizumab and pembrolizumab for recurrent/metastatic disease
• Metastatic NPC — Gemcitabine + cisplatin + camrelizumab; toripalimab combinations

Nasal & Paranasal Sinus Cancer

• Sinonasal Squamous Cell Carcinoma — Endoscopic and open resection; adjuvant chemoradiation
• Sinonasal Adenocarcinoma — Endoscopic resection for intestinal-type adenocarcinoma
• Esthesioneuroblastoma — Endoscopic and craniofacial resection; adjuvant radiation
• Sinonasal Undifferentiated Carcinoma (SNUC) — Multimodality treatment

Skull Base Tumors

• Anterior Skull Base Tumors — Endoscopic endonasal and open craniofacial approaches in collaboration with neurosurgery
• Chordoma & Chondrosarcoma — En bloc resection; proton therapy coordination
• Jugular Foramen Tumors — Glomus jugulare and jugular foramen schwannoma; surgical resection

Neck Masses & Lymph Node Metastases

• Cervical Lymph Node Dissection — Selective, modified radical, and radical neck dissection; robotic-assisted neck dissection via retroauricular approach
• Unknown Primary with Cervical Metastases — Comprehensive workup including PET-CT, panendoscopy, and molecular profiling; HPV/EBV testing for primary site identification
• Thyroglossal Duct Cyst — Sistrunk procedure
• Branchial Cleft Cyst — Surgical excision

Thyroid Cancer Center: A National Leader

FUSCC's thyroid cancer center is one of the highest-volume thyroid cancer programs in China, treating thousands of thyroid cancer patients annually. The center's approach is characterized by:

Risk-Stratified Management

Not all thyroid cancers require aggressive treatment. FUSCC's thyroid cancer team applies rigorous risk stratification to individualize treatment, offering active surveillance for very low-risk papillary microcarcinomas, hemithyroidectomy for low-risk PTC, and total thyroidectomy with neck dissection for intermediate and high-risk disease — avoiding overtreatment while ensuring optimal outcomes for patients who need more aggressive management.

Minimally Invasive & Remote-Access Thyroidectomy

• Endoscopic Thyroidectomy — Breast approach and axillary approach for cosmetically sensitive patients
• Robotic Thyroidectomy — da Vinci robotic thyroidectomy via retroauricular or axillary approach; scarless neck surgery
• Conventional Open Thyroidectomy — For large goiters, substernal extension, and high-risk disease

Intraoperative Nerve Monitoring

All thyroid and parathyroid operations at FUSCC are performed with continuous intraoperative neuromonitoring (CIONM) of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, minimizing the risk of voice change after thyroid surgery.

Free Flap Reconstruction Program

Complex head and neck cancer resections often require sophisticated reconstructive surgery to restore form and function. FUSCC's reconstructive program — in close collaboration with plastic and reconstructive surgery — offers the full range of free flap options:

• Radial Forearm Free Flap — For oral cavity and oropharyngeal reconstruction; thin, pliable tissue for tongue and floor of mouth
• Anterolateral Thigh (ALT) Free Flap — Versatile flap for large defects of the oral cavity, oropharynx, and hypopharynx
• Fibula Free Flap — Vascularized bone and soft tissue for mandibular reconstruction; dental implant rehabilitation
• Free Jejunal Flap — For circumferential pharyngeal and cervical esophageal reconstruction after total laryngopharyngectomy
• Pectoralis Major Pedicled Flap — For salvage reconstruction and wound coverage

Why International Patients Choose FUSCC Head & Neck Surgery

• National Leadership — One of China's highest-volume and most distinguished head and neck cancer surgical programs
• Thyroid Cancer Expertise — Risk-stratified management, minimally invasive and robotic thyroidectomy, and targeted therapy for advanced thyroid cancer
• Comprehensive Reconstruction — Full range of free flap reconstruction for complex head and neck defects
• NPC Expertise — Expert management of nasopharyngeal cancer including endoscopic salvage surgery and novel immunotherapy combinations
• Clinical Trial Access — Active participation in trials for novel targeted and immunotherapy agents for head and neck cancers
• Cost-Effectiveness — World-class head and neck cancer care at significantly lower cost than equivalent treatment in Western countries

The CMCS Patient Journey

1. Initial Inquiry — Share your diagnosis, imaging (CT, MRI, PET-CT), biopsy pathology, molecular profiling, and prior treatment history with CMCS.
2. Medical Record Preparation — We translate and organize your records for specialist pre-consultation review.
3. Specialist Matching — We identify the most appropriate head and neck surgeon based on your tumor type and location.
4. MDT Submission — Where appropriate, we facilitate pre-arrival case review by FUSCC's head and neck cancer MDT.
5. Priority Scheduling — We secure a consultation and surgical slot with minimal waiting time.
6. Travel & Logistics — Assistance with visa invitation letters, accommodation near FUSCC, and Shanghai airport transfers.
7. Surgical Admission Support — Full coordination of pre-operative assessment, admission, and inpatient care.
8. Post-Operative Follow-Up — Pathology report translation, adjuvant therapy coordination, and remote follow-up after you return home.

Book a Consultation

If you are seeking expert head and neck cancer care in Shanghai — whether for thyroid cancer, oral cavity cancer, laryngeal cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, salivary gland tumors, or a second opinion on a complex head and neck diagnosis — CMCS can arrange a specialist consultation with FUSCC's head and neck surgery team.

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