TTH Successfully Performs First Head & Neck Cancer Removal Procedure

Tree Top Hospital successfully completes a modified radical neck dissection procedure for the removal of cancer. This is the first time such a procedure has been carried out at the hospital and was led by top surgeon Dr Rajesh A. Valand, Consultant E.N.T. Speaking on the surgery, he said “This surgery is a complex surgical cancer operation where all the lymph nodes and fibroid fatty tissue were removed along with a tumour”.

 In usual cases, neck dissection is usually performed to remove cancer that has spread to lymph nodes in the neck. Lymph nodes are tiny bean-shaped glands located at different parts of the body and their primary function is to file and process lymph fluid from other organs. When cancer is spreading, they sometimes get caught in a lymph node and grow. This phenomenon is called Metastasis. The extent of tissue removal weighs on numerous factors including the stage of cancer and the type of cancer.

Although nerves and veins are typically lost during a radical neck dissection, modified radical dissections preserve those structures. Because of this, the risky surgery must be performed with utmost precision and requires meticulous skill and deliberation to prevent the potential loss of critical neck structures. The surgery team constituted Dr Rajesh Arvind Valand, Consultant E.N.T. and was assisted by Dr Chandrashekhar Rawal, Consultant E.N.T. together with a skilled team of operation theatre nurses and anaesthetics doctors.

The surgery was performed on a 71-year-old male patient, Ibrahim Anees. Reflecting on his experience he shared “I selected Tree Top Hospital as my point of care for a number of reasons, including my confidence in Dr Rajesh and his experience in the field. At the age of 71, being diagnosed with cancer and being treated for it while having my family nearby has been a great deal of satisfaction rather than having to travel abroad”.

Dr Rajesh A. Valand is a Consultant, specialized in E.N.T. with clinical interests ranging from Head and Neck Cancer, Parotidectomy, Thyroidectomy, Snoring and Sleep Apnea surgeries, and Pinna Reconstruction. He completed his MBBS at Bombay University in India after which he finished his Master of Surgery (MS-ENT) at the same university. Dr Rajesh has previously been posted as an E.N.T. Consultant at BSES Municipal General Hospital where he worked for more than 16 years.

The Otolaryngologists at Tree Top Hospital diagnose and manage various diseases of the ears, nose, sinuses, larynx, mouth and throat as well as structures of the neck and face. The experts in the department accommodate a wide range of disciplines and work with other specialists including speech therapists, pathologists and surgeons to deliver comprehensive delivery of treatment.