Head and neck tumors are malignant tissue neoplasms in the head and neck area.
These include tumors
- of the skin
- of the connective and supporting tissue
- of the bones
- of the salivary glands
- of the upper and lower jaw and
- the tongue, the floor of the mouth and the cheek
- Common neck and head tumors are
- Laryngeal cancer
- oral cavity cancer
- throat cancer
- salivary gland cancer or
- lip cancer
Head and neck tumors account for 4 to 6 percent of all new malignant cases each year and are the 6th most common malignant tumor disease worldwide.
In Germany, more than 10,000 people are diagnosed with head and neck tumors every year.
Smokers and people who consume excessive amounts of alcohol in particular have an increased risk of developing a head and neck tumor.
Head and necktumors are different types of cancer that occur in the headand neck area @ Orawan /AdobeStock
The treatment of head and neck tumors is mainly carried out using three therapeutic procedures:
Surgery is the most important component of treatment. Doctors surgically remove the tumors.
This is often followed by aesthetic and/or functional reconstruction of the operated area. This is either because doctors have to remove parts of the face or because they are securing and restoring important bodily functions.
Important bodily functions are
- swallowing
- chewing
- breathing and
- speak
Certified head and neck tumor centers offer patients the most modern surgical techniques developed according to the latest scientific findings.
It therefore makes sense to undergo treatment at a certified head and neck tumor center. Experienced teams of doctors from a wide range of medical specialties work together there on an interdisciplinary basis.
Radiation for head and neck tumors @ AkuAku /AdobeStock
Certified head and neck tumor centers must be certified by the independent certification institute OnkoZert on behalf of the German Cancer Society.
They must be able to prove that they can treat patients with head and neck tumors in the following ways:
- holistic
- interdisciplinary
- at the highest level of quality and
- according to evidence-based guidelines
The basis for this certification process is the survey form for head and neck tumor centers, which defines the technical requirements and certification criteria.
Around 25 experts from the various participating specialist societies and professional associations form the certification commission. Together they draw up this list of requirements, which is based on the recommendations of the "S3 guideline on oral cavity cancer".
Interdisciplinary, multi-professional and, if necessary, cross-location cooperation between medical specialties are the most important requirements for certified head and neck tumor centers.
This enables holistic care for patients with head and neck tumors (diagnosis, therapy, aftercare, palliative care and hospice work).
In certified head and neck tumor centers, the specialist disciplines as well as outpatient and inpatient partners work closely together. They must communicate well with each other in order to provide the best possible therapy.
Ear, nose and throat medicine (ENT) and oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMF) are the two main disciplines of certified head and neck tumor centers.
Other medical specialties are also involved, such as
By pooling specialist expertise, a single treatment method is sufficient in many cases. Certified head and neck tumor centers can offer a combination of the various treatment methods of the specialist areas involved.
An additional service offered by certified head and neck tumor centers is the care of oncological patients in the context of psycho-oncology as well as through social services and self-help groups.
Oncology patients receive comprehensive treatment in head and neck tumor centers@ standret /AdobeStock
The aim of certified head and neck tumour centers is to optimize:
- The care structure in oncology clinics
- The holistic care of patients with head and neck cancer
- Structural requirements and
- quality standards
A further aim is to provide affected patients with guidance in their search for a facility.
The "Certified Head and Neck Tumor Center" seal of approval shows patients that they are in experienced and competent hands.
They feel that they are in good hands, which makes it easier for them to deal with their illness and improves their chances of recovery.
The independent certification institute OnkoZert carries out the certification process on behalf of the German Cancer Society.
Certification as a head and neck tumor center is only possible if the medical facility is already certified as an oncology center.
If there is no certification as an oncology center, initial certification as an oncology center must be obtained.
If the facility already has a certificate as an oncology center, an informal request for an extension of the certification is sufficient.
The initial certification as a head and neck tumor center then takes place as part of the annual surveillance audit of the oncology center. The prerequisite is that the application is submitted at least 3 months before the planned audit date.
For certification to be successful, a head and neck tumor center must first submit a written questionnaire outlining the extent to which it meets the quality requirements and certification criteria.
This is followed by an on-site audit, during which OnkoZert experts check whether the head and neck tumor center meets the requirements.
Once the facility has successfully completed the certification process, it is finally awarded the "Certified Head and Neck Tumor Center" quality seal.
Its validity is linked to the validity of the certification as an oncology center.
The technical, personnel and structural requirements that certified head and neck tumor centers must meet include
- Treatment of at least 75 head and neck tumors per year
- Treatment of patients with head and neck tumors according to the evidence-based guidelines of the oncological societies, especially the "S3 guideline on oral cavity carcinoma"
- Minimum number of qualified doctors
- Presence of ear, nose and throat medicine and oral and maxillofacial surgery as well as other cooperating specialties such as haemato-oncology, radiology, pathology, ophthalmology and neurosurgery
- Proof of interdisciplinary cooperation and communication between all departments involved
- Conducting interdisciplinary tumor conferences to determine the treatment procedures for all patients
- Coordination of treatment and workflow processes within the Head Tumor CenterDefinition of interfaces at the transitions from inpatient to outpatient treatment