Head and Neck Surgery

Several specialists work as one team around each patient, so a lump is looked into and treated together. Diagnosis often starts with a neck ultrasound and a small needle test. Surgery may then remove a thyroid, a salivary gland or nearby lymph nodes, whether the lump is benign or cancerous.

What is head and neck surgery?

Head and neck surgery treats lumps and glands of the neck and face. Most of the work involves the thyroid, the salivary glands and the lymph nodes, though skin cancers are treated too. Surgeons here work out what a lump is, remove what needs removing and follow you up afterwards. Thyroid and parathyroid surgery is shared ground with endocrine surgery, and ENT surgeons also operate on the head and neck, so more than one team may care for you.

Who is referred for head and neck surgery?

Most people reach a head and neck surgeon on referral, not by booking in directly. A GP, dentist or ENT doctor usually makes the first assessment, then refers you when a lump needs surgical review.

You might be sent after a neck lump that hasn't settled, a swelling in a salivary gland or a growth in the mouth. A neck lump is one sign you may notice yourself, so it's worth having any lump that lasts more than a few weeks looked at. Other referrals follow a blood test that points to an overactive gland, or a scan and needle test done elsewhere. The surgeon then reviews the findings and decides whether an operation is the right step.

What to expect

At your first visit, the surgeon asks about the lump and examines your neck and mouth by hand. The usual next test is a neck ultrasound, which pictures a lump, the thyroid or the lymph nodes. If a sample is needed, a fine needle draws a few cells for the laboratory to check; this is quick and done in the clinic. Blood tests may be added when a gland could be overactive.

What happens next depends on what the tests show. Some lumps only need watching with repeat scans, while others are better removed, either to treat a problem or to confirm the diagnosis. An operation might take out part or all of the thyroid, a salivary gland or the lymph nodes in the neck. Your surgeon explains the options and the likely recovery, then agrees the next step with you.

Head and neck surgery at Mediclinic

We run a dedicated head and neck unit in Dubai. Surgeons there work alongside ENT colleagues to look into a neck lump and treat it. Surgery may be on the thyroid, the salivary glands or the lymph nodes. Diagnosis uses a neck ultrasound and a fine needle sample, so a plan is set before any operation.

We care for benign lumps and cancers alike, and remove the congenital cysts that can appear as a lump in a child's neck. Thyroid and parathyroid surgery is part of the work. Speech therapists and dietitians help with recovery where it's needed. Thyroid and neck surgery is also carried out at our Abu Dhabi hospital.