GLOSSARY
Adenocarcinomas - Cancers that develop inside the salivary glands
Adjuvant Therapy - Treatment used in addition to the main treatment, often referring to treatment after surgery to increase the chance of curing the disease or keeping it under control.
Alopecia - Hair loss from the head or body. Alopecia can be a side effect from medication, such as chemotherapy.
Anaemia - A condition in which a person’s blood has a lower than normal amount of haemoglobin, which is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.
Anaesthesia - This can refer to the method by which you are treated (that is local or general). It can also refer to the fact that you can't feel a part of your skin. If you can feel but the feeling is reduced or abnormal this is called paraesthesia.
Antiemetics - Medications used to control nausea and vomiting symptoms; nausea and vomiting are often a side effect associated with chemotherapy.
Asymptomatic - Having or showing no symptoms of a disease
Auriculectomy - Surgical procedure to remove all or part of the ear.
Benign Tumour - An abnormal growth that does not contain cancer and does not spread to lymph nodes or other areas of the body.
Biopsy - The removal of a tissue sample from a living person to see if cancer cells are present and to determine the exact type of cancer. This is usually done under local anaesthetic and may be an incision biopsy (removal of a small piece usually with stitching the wound), punch biopsy ( removal of an even smaller piece with no stitching) and excision biopsy (where all the lesion is removed).
Brachytherapy - Treatment that uses implanted seeds, needles or other material that emits radiation, near or at the site of the tumor, with the objective of maximizing local radiation to the tumor while sparing surrounding tissues.
Buccal mucosa - Buccal mucosa is the inside lining of the cheeks and is part of the lining mucosa of the mouth
Cancer - The general name for a group of more than 100 diseases in which abnormal cells grow out of the normal controls of the body’s defence systems. Unlike benign tumors, cancers often have the ability to spread to other parts of the body.
Carcinogen - A substance that causes cancer.
Cell - The basic unit that constitutes organic tissue.
Chemotherapy - Treatment with drugs to inhibit cancer cell division and to destroy cancers.
Clinical Trials - Studies that use human subjects and are designed to compare different Treatments for the same condition or fur different stages or severity of the same condition They can also be used.evaluate the optimal dosage and safety of a new drug or medical device, and whether the new drug or medical device is an effective treatment.
Computed Tomography (CT) - X-ray images of the body taken from different angles; images are combined to make pictures of internal organs. The images provide a cross-sectional view of a particular part of the body.
Concurrent Chemoradiation - A type of therapy that uses both chemotherapy and radiotherapy at the same time; this type of therapy is often more effective than using one therapy alone (i.e., chemotherapy) or using the treatments sequentially (i.e., chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy).
Craniofacial Resection - Surgical procedure to remove tissue at the base of the skull; may include bones of the face.
Cyberknife - Robotic stereotactic radiosurgery is a type of therapy that can be used to administer radiation to the site of the tumor, while minimizing the dosage to surrounding normal tissues.
Cytologist - A pathologist with special training examining individual cells or clusters of cells, which can include the diagnosis of diseases based on the analysis of the cells.
Deltopectoral Flap - Tissue from the front of the chest and the shoulder that is based near the sternum and can be used to reconstruct areas of the head and neck.
Dietician - The Specialist who will help you decide on your diet and ensure you maintain your weight after treatment for head and neck cancer
Distant Metastasis - Cancer that has spread far from its original location to distant organs.
DNA - Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the genetic blueprint found in each cell that codes for proteins and holds information on cell growth, division and function. A person's DNA may change (mutation) resulting in cancer formation. These changes occur more frequently with advancing age.
Dysarthria - Impairment in speech, such as speaking so that the words run into one another (slurred speech) or an inability to pronounce the words clearly.
Dysphagia - Difficulty swallowing.
Dysphonia - Voice impairment with symptoms such as hoarseness.
Dysplasia - An term used in pathology to refer to an abnormality of development/growth which hs not turned into cancer, but may be liable to in the future.
Electrolarynx - An electrolarynx is a small, battery-operated electrical device that vibrates and produces sound. You hold the device under your chin, and as you move your mouth and lips the vibrations translate into spoken words. Your SLT can train you to use it correctly
Electromyography (EMG) - A medical test that checks muscle health and the nerves that control muscles.
Endoscopic resection - Endoscopic resection can be used in early-stage laryngeal cancer. During the procedure, a surgeon uses a special microscope to get a magnified view of the larynx. This allows them to remove the cancer either with a laser or small surgical instruments. An endoscopic resection is carried out under general anaesthetic, so you will be unconscious during the procedure and won't feel any pain.
Erythroleukoplakia - An abnormal patch of red and white tissue that forms on the mucous membranes or the mouth and has the potential to become malignant
Erythroplakia - A red area on the mucous membrane that cannot be attributed to any other pathology
Oesophageal Speech - After the surgical removal of the larynx, which contains the vocal cords, patients can learn to speak through this alternate technique, which requires swallowing and then expelling air through the oesophagus (the muscular tube that carries food to the stomach) to produce sound.The speech and language therapist will instruct you in this technique.
Oesophagus - The muscular tube that carries food and water from the back of the mouth/lower part of the throat to the stomach.
Fibrosis - Hardening or thickening of connective tissue, which may lead to functional impairment in the affected areas.
Fibular Free Flap - A flap of bone from the fibula (a thin, narrow elongated bone of the lower leg) that can be transplanted along with skin on the side of the calf and used to reconstruct regions of the upper and lower jaws.
Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) - A type of biopsy in which a needle attached to a syringe is inserted into a growth or tumor in order to remove cells that are then analyzed under a microscope.
Fistula - A hole between two different anatomic structures or between an anatomic structure and the surface of the body. An “orocutaneous” fistula refers to an abnormal opening between the mouth and the skin of the face or neck. This may result from surgery. It should resolve with medical treatment but might need a small surgical operation.
Flexible Fiberoptic Evaluation of Swallowing - A technique that uses a thin tube with a camera to transmit light and images from the back of the throat; this technique has been used to visualize and detect problems with swallowing. During this procedure, the camera, on a flexible scope, is placed through the nose and into the back of the throat to watch the flow of liquids while a patient swallows.
Fluoride Prophylaxis - Fluoride has demonstrated efficacy in some trials to alter teeth characteristics, which can prevent cavities.
Fluoride Treatment - Because fluoride has been shown to have properties such as the ability to build bone, it has been used to treat osteoporosis and other bone diseases.
Frozen Section - Tissue is removed from the site of interest, frozen, sliced into a thin layer and placed onto a slide. Later, the sample is evaluated by a pathologist with a microscope. This technique is most commonly performed during a surgical procedure. It is often used to assess the margins around cancer after it is removed.
Gamma Knife - A device that applies radiation to a specific point or region, particularly at or near the site of a tumor.
Gastrostomy Tube - A tube inserted through the skin and into the stomach; the tube can be used to administer nutrition or medication.
Gene - A segment of DNA that contains information that codes for a protein, such as haemoglobin, and for characteristics such as eye color or the likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Genetic Testing - Tests performed to determine whether a person has certain gene sequences known to increase cancer risk or the risk of developing other diseases. Genetic counseling is becoming a routine part of the cancer treatment process. It may provide clues as to whether a particular disease may be present in siblings as well as the risk of spread to patients’ offspring.
Glossectomy - The removal of a portion of the tongue or the entire tongue. The adjectives “partial” and “total” are commonly placed before glossectomy to denote the extent of tongue removed. “Hemiglossectomy” refers to the removal of half of the tongue.
Gray (Gy) - A unit of measurement of an absorbed dose of radiation.
Growth Factors - A product that can promote the division of many types of cells. In some types of cancer, an abnormality that causes the overproduction of a growth factor or the overactivation of a growth factor receptor can cause cells to divide and promote the growth of a tumor.
Histopathology - The microscopic examination of tissue in order to study the manifestations of disease
Hoarseness - A voice quality characteristic; speaking in a gravely, scratchy or harsh voice.
Hormone Therapy - Treatment with drugs that interfere with hormone production, which can kill cancer cells or slow their growth. Hormone therapy may also refer to the use of hormones that are given as pills or liquid to replace the hormones that are naturally produced by a gland that was removed during surgery.
Human papilloma virus (HPV) - The name for a group of viruses that affect your skin and the moist membranes
Hyperkeratosis - The thickening of the outermost layer of the epidermis (stratum corneum) often associated with the presence of an abnormal amount of keratin
Hypernasality - A quality of voice with an extreme vibration of sound, usually heard with the pronunciation of vowels. It commonly results from the escape of air in the back of the throat that leads to an increase of air coming through the nasal passages.
Hyperplasia - An increase in the amount of organic tissue that results from cell proliferation.
Hyponasality - A quality of voice with a low or insufficient vibration of sound. It is similar to the quality of voice that occurs when an individual has nasal congestion.
Hypopharynx - A cavity in the throat that extends between the hyoid bone, which anchors the tongue, to the cricoid cartilage, which is a piece of cartilage that is located at the top of the trachea. The hypopharynx is the portion of the throat that connects to the oesophagus, and food passes through this region en route to the stomach.
Hypothyroidism - Caused by a decreased production of thyroid hormones. Symptoms can include fatigue, weight gain or cognitive and/or psychiatric problems.
Image-guidance - This type of therapy uses computers and images, which can be collected from CT, X-ray or other techniques, of both the tumour and surrounding anatomic structures. The imaging information is then used to plan the radiation therapy so that radiation can be transmitted to the site of the tumor while sparing the surrounding normal tissues.It can also be used to guide surgical operations.
Immune System - The body’s network of cells that work together to protect the body from invading micro-organisms and disease.
Immunotherapy - Treatments that promote or support the immune system’s response to cancer.
Induction Chemotherapy (Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy) - Chemotherapy, or drugs that slow cell division and cause the death of cancer cells, are used first in a sequence of therapies. It commonly involves several courses of administering drugs prior to the main form of treatment, which may involve radiation or surgery. The cancer’s response to induction chemotherapy will often help to determine the rest of treatment.
Infusion Port - If a patient is likely to need long-term and frequent access to a vein, a central venous access device, called a port, can be used. The implantable device will include a tube that inserts into the vein. The port can stay in place for an extended period of time so that samples can be collected frequently from the blood and/or medications such as chemotherapy can be administered.
Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy - This type of radiotherapy is used in combination with images that include the shape of the surrounding anatomic structures and the tumors, which enables the application of variable radiation intensities to the site of the tumor while sparing surrounding tissues (and minimizing radiation therapy toxicities).
Laryngeal cancer - Type of cancer that affects the voice box (larynx)
Laryngectomy - Surgery to remove a portion or the entire voice box (larynx - the structure that holds the vocal cords).
Laryngectomy Tube - After the surgical removal of the larynx, which contains the vocal cords and a pathway to the lungs, a hole (stoma) is created that involves sewing the end of the windpipe to an opening in the skin of the neck. Tubing is used in combination with the stoma to maintain access to air for breathing.
Pharyngolaryngectomy - "The surgical removal of both the pharynx, which is located at the back of the mouth and extends from the end of the nasal passage to the larynx, and the larynx, which contains the vocal cords. This procedure is commonly performed for cancers of the hypopharynx. Reconstruction of this defect requires reconnection of the mouth to the oesophagus (gullet) or stomach. This is usually done using a section of small intestine called the jejunum and involves a separate operation on the abdomen. The trachea is brought to the skin in the front of the neck as an end stoma (hole)or “laryngostome""."
Laryngoscopy - If it isn't possible to get a good view of your larynx during a nasendoscopy, or a possible problem is spotted, you may have a further test called a laryngoscopy. Like a nasendoscopy, this procedure involves using an endoscope to examine your larynx. However, the endoscope used during a laryngoscopy is longer and inserted through the mouth. This allows the larynx to be seen in greater detail. Usually carried out under general anaesthetic.
Latissimus Dorsi Flap - The transfer and use of a portion of the latissimus dorsi, a large outer muscle on the lower part of the back, for the reconstruction of an area in the head. This muscle is commonly transferred with the overlying skin and can be used either as a regional pedical flap or a free flap.
larynx - The larynx or voicebox is part of the throat found at the entrance of the windpipe (trachea). It plays an important role in helping you breathe and speak.
Lesion - A lesion is any abnormal damage or change in the tissue of an organism usually caused by disease or trauma
Leukoplakia - A white patch that develops in the mouth
Localized Cancer - Cancer that is confined to the organ where it started and has not spread to other parts of the body.
Lymph Nodes - Small bean-shaped collections of immune system tissue that remove cell waste, germs and other harmful substances from the lymphatic system. Lymph nodes fight infections and have a role in fighting cancer, but cancer can also spread to or through the lymph nodes. If this occurs, the lymph nodes may need to be removed.
Lymphatic System - The extensive drainage network that keeps bodily fluids in balance and defends the body from infections. Cancer often spreads through the lymphatic system.
Malignant transformation - The process by which cells acquire the properties of cancer.
Malignant Tumor - A mass of cancerous cells that may invade nearby tissues or spread (metastasise) to other areas of the body.
Mandible - The lower jaw.
Mandibulectomy - Removal of a portion of or the entire mandible, or lower jaw. Marginal and segmental mandibulectomy refer to the removal of portions of the lower jaw.
Marginal Mandibulectomy - The removal of a portion of the lower jaw, or mandible, without disrupting the continuity of the jaw, which would leave a gap in the bone. This technique is usually performed for more limited tumors that are not invading into the bone. The removal of an entire segment of the mandible is referred to as “segmental mandibulectomy.”
Maxilla - The upper jaw.
Maxillectomy - Surgical procedure to remove all or part of the maxilla, or upper jaw.
Medical Oncologist - A physician who is specially trained to diagnose and treat cancer with chemotherapy and other drugs.
Melanoma - A type of cancer that starts with pigmented cells called melanocytes, which are primarily located on the skin but are also found in other parts of the body such as the eye.
Metastasis - Cancer cells that have spread to one or more sites elsewhere in the body, often through the lymphatic system or bloodstream.
Microvascular Free Flap - This technique of reconstruction revolutionised the surgery and overall decision-making in head and neck cancer treatment. Essentially, it involves microscopic plumbing of arteries and veins from one site in the patient' body to branches of the carotid artery and jugular vein in the patient's neck. The artery and vein from a distance site in the patient's body have been confirmed to supply lblood to and drain blood from arge pieces of bone and or, skin and fat and or muscle. These large pieces of tissue can be removed from their natural sites without undue harm to the patient and used to reconstruct the head and neck. After identifying these tissue materials surgically their artery and vein are divided at their natural site in the body (donor site) and the whole bulk of tissue is transplanted to its recipient site in the head and neck. The artery and vein from the donor site are now joined using fine stitches (anastomosed) to branches of the carotid artery and jugular vein and when the clamps are removed from these blood vessels the mass of tissue comes and stays in alive. A multitude of areas of the body have been identified that have an artery and vein that are vital to the success of the transfer. This surgical technique is challenging and must be performed at specialised centres.
Barium Swallow - A test to evaluate problems with swallowing; the patient drinks a barium liquid or paste mixture and fluoroscopy (Xray examination) is performed to record the swallowing. Evaluation of this test helps to understand how well a patient is swallowing and may help to determine the safety of swallowing as well as what technique may be used to help a patient to effectively swallow.
Modified Neck Dissection - The surgical removal of all of the lymph nodes in the neck. The dissected lymph nodes are then evaluated by a pathologist for the presence of cancer. A modified neck dissection does not take as many structures (such as the jugular vein, the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the accessory nerve) as a radical neck dissection
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) - A radiology technique that uses magnetism, radio waves and a computer to produce highly detailed images of structures in the body.
M-stage - Describes distant metastasis (spread of cancer from one part of the body to another). M-stage is given as either M0 or M1.
Mucositis - Inflammation of the skin lining the digestive tracts, which can lead to mild to severe pain or complications that disrupt swallowing or eating
Multidisciplinary team (MDT) - Most hospitals use multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) of specialists that work together to decide the best way to proceed with your treatment. Members of your MDT will probably include a surgeon, a clinical oncologist (a specialist in non-surgical treatment of cancer), and a specialist cancer nurse who will be responsible for co-ordinating your care.
Nasendoscopy - A nasendoscopy is a procedure used to get a clear view of your larynx. During the procedure, a small, flexible tube with a light and video camera at one end (endoscope) is inserted into one of your nostrils and passed down the back of your throat. The images from the endoscope are displayed on a monitor.
Nasogastric Tube - This is a tube that passes through the nose to the stomach If a patient has problems with swallowing, to feed administered liquid diets to the patient.
Nasopharyngeal cancer - Nasopharyngeal cancer affects the part of the throat that connects the back of the nose to the back of the mouth. It's one of the rarest types of head and neck cancer in the UK but is more common in the far east. It is ofetn associated with a virus called the Epstein-Barr virus.
Nasopharynx - the part of the throat that connects the back of the nose to the back of the mouth
Neutropaenia - An abnormally low number of white blood cells (the cells that fight infection).
No Evidence of Disease - A term that is used when examinations and tests can find no cancer in a patient who has been treated for cancer.
Nose and sinus cancer - Nose and sinus cancer affects the nasal cavity (above the roof of your mouth) and the sinuses (the small, air-filled cavities inside the bones of the nose and within the cheekbones and forehead).
N-stage - Describes nearby (regional) lymph nodes that are involved. N-stage is given as a number from 0-3.
Oncology - The field of medicine concerned with cancer, including diagnosis and treatment.
Oral lichen planus - A chronic inflammatory condition that affects the mucous membranes of the mouth. It can appear as white patches, red swellings or open sores.
Oral malignant melanoma - Where the cancer starts in cells called melanocytes which help gives the skin its colour
Oral squamous cell carcinoma - The most common form of oral cancer
Oral submucous fibrosis - A chronic disease of the mouth most commonly affecting the soft palate (the movable part of the palate at the back of the mouth) and the inside of the cheeks (buccal mucosa). It is caused by chewing paan or betel nut and results in severe fibrosis and difficulty openeing the mouth (trismus).
Orbital Exenteration - The removal of the eye and adjacent tissues located in the space within the bony eye socket.
Oropharynx - The cavity in the back of the mouth which is the middle part of the pharynx between the nasopharynx above and the larynx and cricopharynx below. The pharynx then leads down to the oesophagus (gullet).
Osseointegrated Implant - An implant that will come into direct contact with bone; bone can grow around the implant in order to achieve a stable fixation between the bone and the implant. Following a period of healing, these implants can be used to anchor a prosthesis such as a denture or an artificial nose or ear.
Osteoradionecrosis - A disorder that occurs due to radiation and results in the death of bone cells. Osteoradionecrosis occurs in different degrees of severity, which determine the type of treatment that is required.
Obturator - A prosthetic device (enalrged denture) used to fill gaps in the upper jaw (maxilla) and palate after operations such as maxillectomy.
Palate - Upper part of the mouth that separats the mouth from the sinuses and nose.
Palliative Care - Treatment aimed at improving a patient’s quality of life by relieving symptoms such as pain. Palliative treatment is not aimed at curing a disease.
Parotid Gland - The largest of the salivary glands, the parotid gland is located under the cheek skin in front of the ear.
Pathologist - A doctor who specializes in the classification of cells and disease diagnosis by examining tissue samples under a microscope.
Pathology - A branch of medical science primarily concerning the study of organs, tissues and bodily fluids in order to make a diagnosis of a disease.
Pectoralis Major Flap - The transfer and use of the pectoralis major muscle, located in the front of the chest wall, for the reconstruction of an area in the head or neck. This is a very commonly used regional flap that permits transfer of chest wall skin by transposing the muscle over the collarbone without interrupting its blood supply.
Definitive Pathology - This is the report deliverede by the pathologist after surgical resection. This result takes much longer than the frozen section to come back because the tissue must be specially prepared then every part of the tisuue removed must be closely examined. It may take several days to complete.
Personalized Medicine - A term that describes diagnosing or performing medical treatments based on individuals’ unique characteristics, such as their genetic makeup or the specific characteristics of a patient’s cancer.
PET Scan - An imaging test that uses a radioactive substance, usually attached to glucose, called a tracer to look for disease in the body. Increased uptake of the tracer is found in cells that are very active such as in infection or cancer.
Pharynx - The cone shaped passageway leading from the oral and nasal cavities in the head to the oesophagus and larynx
Photodynamic therapy - If the cancer is in its very early stages, it may be possible to remove any tumours using a type of laser surgery known as photodynamic therapy (PDT). PDT involves taking a medicine that makes your tissue sensitive to the effects of light. A laser is then used to remove the tumour. The patient is usually incredibly light-sensitive for up to a week after this treatment and must therefore be kept isolated in a dark room for this time to prevent severe sunburn.
Platelet - A component of blood that helps blood clotting and reduces bleeding.
Potentially malignant disorder (PMD) - Used instead of premalignant lesions and conditions- a lesion that has the potential to become malignant/cancerous
Primary Site - The site where cancer originated or first started growing.
Prognosis - A medical term for predicting the likely outcome of an illness or form of treatment.
Prosthodontist - Specialist with an area of expertise in dentistry and the replacement of missing tissue such as teeth from the jaw and mouth. A maxillofacial prosthodontist will often be involved in the creation of other anatomic structures such as an ear, nose or eye.
Proton Beam Radiation - A type of treatment for head and neck cancer that applies radiation in the form of a proton beam to a tumor.
Punch biopsy - A punch biopsy may be used if the suspected affected area of tissue is in an easily accessible place, such as the tongue or the inside of the mouth. The area is first injected with a local anaesthetic to numb it. The doctor will then cut away a small section of affected tissue and remove it with tweezers.
Radial Forearm Flap - Tissue from the forearm can be removed and then used to reconstruct defects in the head or neck. It is a commonly used microvascular free flap that carries vascularized skin and sometimes bone from the radius.
Clinical Oncologist - A doctor who concentrates in using radiation therapy to treat cancer.
Radiation Simulation - In order to optimize the delivery of radiation therapy to the site of the tumor while sparing surrounding healthy tissue, a simulation and planning is done; a patient will position himself or herself as if the therapy will be administered, and images, such as a CT scan, are taken. This is part of the treatment planning process.
Radiotherapy - Radiotherapy uses controlled doses of high-energy radiation to destroy cancerous cells. It can be used on its own, or with chemotherapy, or after surgery. Radiotherapy is usually given in short daily sessions from Monday to Friday, with a break from treatment at the weekend. The course of treatment usually lasts for three to seven weeks. The energy beams used during radiotherapy have to be precisely targeted. To ensure the beams are directed at the exact area, a special plastic mask will be made to hold your head in the right position
Radical Neck Dissection - The surgical removal of all of the lymph nodes in the neck. The dissected lymph nodes are then evaluated by a pathologist for the presence of cancer.
Reconstructive Surgery - Surgery to restore the form and function of the body.
Rectus Abdominis Flap - The transfer and use of a portion of the rectus abdominis muscle, a large flat muscle in the abdomen, for the reconstruction of an area in the head or neck. It is commonly transferred to the head and neck as a free flap with the overlying skin located on the front surface of the abdomen.
Recurrence - The return of cancer after treatment.
Red Blood Cells - A type of blood cell that contains haemoglobin, which carries oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body.
Regional Flap - While there are surgical techniques such as the microvascular flap that must be performed at specialised centres, the regional flap technique is not as complicated and does not necessitate a specialised centre. Regional flap is the use of regional or nearby tissue to replace and repair the missing tissue in the part of the body with the defect. It does not require removal and repositioning in the body, and its vascular supply is maintained throughout the transfer.
Regional Metastasis - Refers to the spread of cancer to lymph nodes in the region near the organ where the tumor originated.
Remission - Complete or partial disappearance of cancer signs and symptoms in response to treatment. A remission may not be a cure.
Respiration - The action of moving air into and out of the lungs.
Respiratory Function (and Testing) - To evaluate whether there are breathing problems, evidence of lung disease or airway obsruction, numerous pulmonary function tests can be performed. Examples include spirometry tests, which measure air that goes into and exits the lungs, and the measurement of lung volume.
Rhinectomy - Surgery to remove a portion of or the entire nose.
Rhinotomy - The use of surgery to cut into the nose, usually to obtain exposure to remove a nasal tumor.
Rigid Fixation - During reconstructive surgery, that involves the transfer of bone to the head and neck, plates and screws are often utilized to hold the transplanted bone in position allowing it to heal to the adjacent bone in order to form a solid union. Rigid fixation may also be used to hold segments of native bone in position without placing a bone graft. In this situation, the rigid fixation is designed to replicate the missing part by using a prosthesis without bone.
Robotic Stereotactic Radiosurgery - Robotic stereotactic radiosurgery is a type of noninvasive therapy that can be used to administer radiation to the site of a tumor while minimizing the dosage to surrounding normal tissues.
Fistula - An abnormal tube connecting the skin with one of the body cavities. An orocutaneous fistula which connects the mouth to the neck skin may occur as a complication after surgery. This is usually managed medically but may require some further minor surgery to repair the hole in the mouth.
Salivary Gland - Glands that produce saliva and empty it into the mouth. The main salivary glands include the parotid, sublingual and submandibular glands. There are many minor salivary glands situated all around the mouth and throat.
Salivary gland cancer - The main symptom of salivary gland cancer is a lump or swelling on or near your jaw, or in your mouth or neck, although the vast majority of these lumps are non-cancerous. Other symptoms can include numbness in part of your face and drooping on one side of your face.
Scapular Free Flap - A donor site located on the upper back that is commonly used to transfer a wide range of tissue, including skin and muscle as well as vasularized bone from the lateral or side portion of the scapular bone. The latissimus muscle as well as the serratus anterior muscle and rib can be transferred as part of this free flap.
Segmental Mandibulectomy - The removal of a through-and-through segment of the lower jaw that disrupts the continuity of that bone. This is usually reserved for more extensive tumors than those that are managed by a marginal mandibulectomy.
Selective Lymph Node Dissection - Specific groups of lymph nodes that are likely to drain a tumor will be removed and evaluated under the microscope for signs of cancer; notably, lymph nodes that are outside the suspected area in the neck will be spared.
Side Effects - Unwanted effects of treatment, such as hair loss, which is sometimes a side effect associated with chemotherapy.
Simulation - In order to optimize the delivery of radiation therapy to the site of the tumor while sparing surrounding, healthy tissue, a simulation and planning is done; a patient will position himself or herself as if the therapy will be administered, and images, such as a CT scan, are taken.
Sinuses - The air-filled cavities in some of the facial bones that warm and moisten the air we breathe and lighten the weight of our heads. There are 3 sites (ethmoid, frontal and maxillary) They may get blocked and infected (sinusitis) and cancer can occasionally develop here.
Skin Graft - A patch of surgically removed skin that is transplanted or attached to another area of the body. Unlike a regional or free flap, a skin graft does not have its own blood supply and relies upon multiple tiny blood vessels growing into the skin graft from the recipient site.
Speech and language therapist - The Specialist who will help you prepare for and recover from head and neck cancer treatment where speech and swallowing may have been affected
Staging - The extent and severity of the primary cancer tumour and whether it has spread. Staging provides a means for doctors to communicate about a patient’s condition as well as a method to group patients with the same disease for the purpose of determining the best treatment and the likelihood of response to treatment.
Stenosis (see stricture) - A passage or tube within the body that becomes narrowed in diameter.
Stereotactic Radiation - A type of therapy that uses a computer and an imaging device, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, to anatomically localize a tumour within the body. This pretreatment planning ensures radiation will be administered to the tumour but reduce radiation to surrounding normal tissues. During the radiotherapy, a head mask fixation system is used to ensure the patient always receives the radiotherapy to the exact site..
Stoma Cover - After a patient has the larynx removed, a hole (stoma) will be surgically placed in the main windpipe; an artificial device can be used instead of a larynx, which will typically include tubing, a chamber where the sound vibrates and a cover. A stoma cover, typically a fabric bib-like item, helps to keep the stoma clean and healthy by keeping dust and other particles out and warming the air during breathing.
Stricture - A passage or tube within the body that becomes narrower.The stricture interferes with the passage of solids, liquids or gases that the tube normally carries..
Stridor - A rough sound that is made during the breathing process, which is caused by a blockage of the airways.
Sublingual gland - Located under your tongue
Submandibular Gland - A salivary gland that is located under the lower jaw.
Submental Flap - Tissue from the front portion of the upper neck located under the jawline that can be transplanted for the reconstruction of anatomic structures, such as the tongue, after it has been removed to treat cancer.
Surgical resection - Operation in which cuts are made to remove cancerous tissue and some surrounding normal tissue to ensure the cancer is completely removed. It is also used palliatively to improve patient's symptoms where it may not possible to cure the patient. or reconstruct tissues or anatomical structures.
Surgical reconstruction - After removal of head and neck cancers, the patient frequently needs reconstruction to enable successful swallowing, eating, speaking and breathing as well as to restore facial appearance. Reconstruction involves taking varying combinations of skin, fat, muscle and bone from one part of the patient's body (depending on what's needed) and using this to reconstruct the head and neck region.
Surgical excision - The removal of tissue using a sharp scalpel or other cutting instrument
Intensive Care Unit (ICU or ITU) - Patients who need to be evaluated, monitored and medically supported after surgery will stay in this specialized facility in a hospital.
Thrombocytopenia - A medical condition in which a person’s blood has a low level of blood cell platelets and may be predisposed to problems with clotting.
Tissue - A collection of cells that are united to perform a particular function.
Total laryngectomy - A total laryngectomy is usually used to treat advanced laryngeal cancer. The operation involves removing your entire larynx. Nearby lymph nodes (small glands that form part of the immune system) may also need to be removed if the cancer has spread to them.
Trachea - A tube that carries air from the larynx, which contains the vocal cords, to the branches of the lungs. The trachea has cartilaginous rings that provide support for this structure.
Tracheo-oesophageal Puncture - If a patient has the larynx removed surgically to treat cancer and can no longer speak, the first step to re-enable the patient to have a voice is to surgically create a hole (puncture) in the back wall of the trachea, the main windpipe. The puncture or opening in the back wall of the trachea extends into the front wall of the oesophagus. A speaking valve is then inserted through this opening and permits air to be directed from the windpipe into the esophagus and out the mouth, thereby allowing a patient who is otherwise unable to speak to resume talking.
Tracheostomy Tube - The tube that is placed in the surgical opening in the trachea, the main airway in order to help breathing or to allow a connection to an artificial breathing machine as a respirator or ventilator.
Tracheostomy - A surgical procedure that creates either a temporary or permanent opening in the trachea to allow placement of a tracheostomy tube. It is used when patients may have difficulty breathing or to block the passage of fluids or food from the mouth into the trachea and lungs (aspiration)
Trismus - The inability to completely open the mouth, which may be due to muscles that are used for chewing having a decreased range of motion. It may also be caused by the growth of a tumor.
T-stage - Describes the size of the original (primary) tumor and whether it has invaded nearby tissue. T-stage is given as a number 1-4
Tumour - An abnormal lump or tissue mass. Tumors can be non-cancerous or cancerous.
Tumour Grade - How abnormal cancer looks under a microscope. Cancers that appear normal have a low grade, while cancers that have more abnormal-appearing cells and tend to grow and spread more quickly have a high grade. The tumour grade affects prognosis and treatment.
Ultrasound scan - This test produces Images (pictures of parts of the body) using high-frequency sound waves . This is performed by laying jelly on the skin then passing a probe over the surface of the skin. A fine needle aspiration of cells may be performedat the same time to take cells for examination (cytology). The needle is the same size as that used for blood tests. .
Videofluoroscopic Evaluation of Swallowing - This type of instrumental assessment is conducted to identify the physiologic swallowing impairment and to determine whether any therapeutic strategies will make the swallow safer (e.g., eliminate aspiration) or more efficient (e.g., improve flow of food and liquid through the mouth and throat); the patient will swallow liquids and solids mixed with barium, which will enable the anatomic structures as well as the barium liquids and solids to be visualized in real-time during swallowing in a scan. When therapeutic strategies are introduced, changes in flow of food and liquid barium as well as improvement in structural movement during the swallow can be visualized with this type of assessment.
Voice Prosthesis - If a patient has the larynx and pharynx removed surgically to treat cancer and can no longer make speech, one way to enable the patient to produce a voice is to surgically create a hole in the trachea, the main windpipe with cartilage, and attach a device that can be used to replace the sound that a voice makes. Other voice prostheses include a handheld electrolarynx or a palatal vibrating device that is placed into the mouth to generate sound that the patient can modify to produce intelligible words.
White Blood Cells - White blood cells are made by bone marrow and help the body fight infection and diseases.
Xerostomia - Dry mouth from reduced saliva flow.
X-rays - Radiation used at low levels to produce body images on film. At high levels, X-rays are used to destroy cancer cells.