Facing the Functional, Oncological and Aesthetic Challenges within the Head and Neck

On October 19th, the International Conference on “Facing the Functional, Oncological and Aesthetic Challenges within the Head and Neck” took place at Hong Ngoc - Phuc Truong Minh General Hospital, gathering leading experts from the United Kingdom and Vietnam.

The event showcased the latest medical advancements, aiming for a comprehensive approach to head and neck cancer surgery that ensures complete tumor removal, preservation of vital functions, and aesthetic reconstruction for patients.

Challenges in head and neck cancer surgery

According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), head and neck cancer ranks as the seventh most common malignancy worldwide. In Vietnam, the number of patients under the age of 40 diagnosed with this disease has doubled over the past decade, reflecting a concerning trend toward younger onset. The disease often originates in anatomically sensitive regions such as the pharynx, larynx, oral cavity, sinuses, salivary glands, and thyroid, which are closely related to essential physiological functions, the nervous system, and facial aesthetics. This presents a threefold challenge in modern head and neck cancer surgery: achieving complete oncological clearance, preserving essential functions, and maintaining aesthetic integrity.

To address this multifaceted surgical challenge, the International Conference held on October 19, co-organized by Facing the World, the Hanoi ENT Society, and Hong Ngoc – Phuc Truong Minh General Hospital, served as an important scientific platform for leading experts from the United Kingdom and Vietnam to share experiences and discuss the latest advances in head and neck cancer treatment and reconstruction.

Overview of the international conference on head and neck cancer surgery in Vietnam

The conference featured 4 sessions and 12 in-depth scientific presentations, attracting over 150 physicians from the fields of otolaryngology – head and neck surgery, oncology, and reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. The event was honored by the presence of Dr. Nguyen Dinh Hung, MD, PhD – Deputy Director in charge of the Hanoi Department of Health; Prof. Nguyen Dinh Phuc, MD, PhD – President of the Hanoi Society of Otorhinolaryngology; Prof. Le Ngoc Thanh, MD, PhD, People’s Teacher – Rector of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Hung, MD, PhD – Deputy Director in charge of the Hanoi Department of Health, emphasized: “In recent years, Hanoi has strengthened collaboration with international organizations and experts to adopt advanced medical technologies and modern management models. The Department of Health continues to promote training, research, and partnerships to build a modern, humane, and globally integrated healthcare system. Conferences like today’s play a vital role in advancing technology transfer and sustainable professional development.”

Attending the conference, Professor Nguyen Dinh Phuc, MD, PhD – President of the Hanoi ENT Society, remarked: “Head and neck cancers are among the most complex malignancies, as they affect vital anatomical structures. These tumors often demonstrate aggressive local invasion but limited distant metastasis, making treatment both challenging and technically demanding. With advances in modern medicine, head and neck surgery today not only achieves complete tumor removal but also enables structural reconstruction, functional recovery, and aesthetic restoration for patients.”

According to Ms. Katrin Kandel, CEO of Facing The World, the organization leading the conference, “Facing the Functional, Oncological and Aesthetic Challenges within the Head and Neck” is part of the “Facing The World Series of Conferences”, a scientific program being implemented in Vietnam. She emphasized that the program aims to enhance surgical capacity in head and neck surgery and craniofacial deformities through training, technical transfer, and international knowledge exchange, enabling Vietnamese physicians to gain new tools and approaches for managing complex cases and to achieve more sustainable treatment outcomes for patients.

The latest advances in head and neck surgery to be shared at the conference

In the first session, themed “Head and Neck Oncology,” international experts discussed the challenges of managing malignant tumors of the sinuses, parotid glands, and thyroid, which demand advanced techniques and precise anatomical knowledge.

Mr. Peter Clarke, Former President of the Laryngology and Rhinology Section of the Royal Society of Medicine, UK, delivered a presentation titled “Considerations when faced with Sinonasal Malignancy” – a group of rare tumors with diverse histopathology, often diagnosed at a late stage due to their similar clinical presentation to benign sinusitis.

From Vietnam, Mr Nguyen Xuan Quang MD MSc  – Head of Otoralyngology - Head & Neck Surgery Department, Hong Ngoc General Hospital, presented a comparative study between transoral endoscopic vestibular thyroid lobectomy and conventional open surgery. The findings demonstrated that the endoscopic approach not only ensures effective tumor control but is also minimally invasive and leaves no external scarring.

The second session, themed “Flap Reconstruction in Head and Neck Cancer,” focused on post-surgical reconstruction to restore function and aesthetics. Dr. Francesco Riva, maxillofacial surgeon and member of the British Medical Association, shared his experience in flap selection for maxillectomy cases to improve chewing function and facial appearance.

In the afternoon, the program continued with specialized sessions focusing on nerve injury management and aesthetic reconstruction, featuring presentations such as: “Management of Facial Nerve Injury: Static vs Dynamic Reanimation” – Dr. Sarah Al-Himdani (UK); “Open aesthetic structural Rhinoplasty” – Dr. Florian Bast (UK); “Microtia Reconstruction with Autologous Costal Cartilage” – Mr Bui Tuan Anh MD MSc, Deputy Head of Plastic Surgery Department, Hong Ngoc – Phuc Truong Minh General Hospital…along with several other noteworthy scientific topics.

The conference, held at Hong Ngoc – Phuc Truong Minh General Hospital, a pioneer in international medical collaboration, served as a professional bridge between British and Vietnamese experts through cooperation with Facing the World and the Hanoi ENT Society, enhancing head and neck cancer treatment capacity and promoting comprehensive, patient-centered care.

On October 19th, the International Conference on “Facing the Functional, Oncological and Aesthetic Challenges within the Head and Neck” took place at Hong Ngoc - Phuc Truong Minh General Hospital, gathering leading experts from the United Kingdom and Vietnam.

The event showcased the latest medical advancements, aiming for a comprehensive approach to head and neck cancer surgery that ensures complete tumor removal, preservation of vital functions, and aesthetic reconstruction for patients.

Challenges in head and neck cancer surgery

According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), head and neck cancer ranks as the seventh most common malignancy worldwide. In Vietnam, the number of patients under the age of 40 diagnosed with this disease has doubled over the past decade, reflecting a concerning trend toward younger onset. The disease often originates in anatomically sensitive regions such as the pharynx, larynx, oral cavity, sinuses, salivary glands, and thyroid, which are closely related to essential physiological functions, the nervous system, and facial aesthetics. This presents a threefold challenge in modern head and neck cancer surgery: achieving complete oncological clearance, preserving essential functions, and maintaining aesthetic integrity.

To address this multifaceted surgical challenge, the International Conference held on October 19, co-organized by Facing the World, the Hanoi ENT Society, and Hong Ngoc – Phuc Truong Minh General Hospital, served as an important scientific platform for leading experts from the United Kingdom and Vietnam to share experiences and discuss the latest advances in head and neck cancer treatment and reconstruction.

Overview of the international conference on head and neck cancer surgery in Vietnam

The conference featured 4 sessions and 12 in-depth scientific presentations, attracting over 150 physicians from the fields of otolaryngology – head and neck surgery, oncology, and reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. The event was honored by the presence of Dr. Nguyen Dinh Hung, MD, PhD – Deputy Director in charge of the Hanoi Department of Health; Prof. Nguyen Dinh Phuc, MD, PhD – President of the Hanoi Society of Otorhinolaryngology; Prof. Le Ngoc Thanh, MD, PhD, People’s Teacher – Rector of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Hung, MD, PhD – Deputy Director in charge of the Hanoi Department of Health, emphasized: “In recent years, Hanoi has strengthened collaboration with international organizations and experts to adopt advanced medical technologies and modern management models. The Department of Health continues to promote training, research, and partnerships to build a modern, humane, and globally integrated healthcare system. Conferences like today’s play a vital role in advancing technology transfer and sustainable professional development.”

Attending the conference, Professor Nguyen Dinh Phuc, MD, PhD – President of the Hanoi ENT Society, remarked: “Head and neck cancers are among the most complex malignancies, as they affect vital anatomical structures. These tumors often demonstrate aggressive local invasion but limited distant metastasis, making treatment both challenging and technically demanding. With advances in modern medicine, head and neck surgery today not only achieves complete tumor removal but also enables structural reconstruction, functional recovery, and aesthetic restoration for patients.”

According to Ms. Katrin Kandel, CEO of Facing The World, the organization leading the conference, “Facing the Functional, Oncological and Aesthetic Challenges within the Head and Neck” is part of the “Facing The World Series of Conferences”, a scientific program being implemented in Vietnam. She emphasized that the program aims to enhance surgical capacity in head and neck surgery and craniofacial deformities through training, technical transfer, and international knowledge exchange, enabling Vietnamese physicians to gain new tools and approaches for managing complex cases and to achieve more sustainable treatment outcomes for patients.

The latest advances in head and neck surgery to be shared at the conference

In the first session, themed “Head and Neck Oncology,” international experts discussed the challenges of managing malignant tumors of the sinuses, parotid glands, and thyroid, which demand advanced techniques and precise anatomical knowledge.

Mr. Peter Clarke, Former President of the Laryngology and Rhinology Section of the Royal Society of Medicine, UK, delivered a presentation titled “Considerations when faced with Sinonasal Malignancy” – a group of rare tumors with diverse histopathology, often diagnosed at a late stage due to their similar clinical presentation to benign sinusitis.

From Vietnam, Mr Nguyen Xuan Quang MD MSc  – Head of Otoralyngology - Head & Neck Surgery Department, Hong Ngoc General Hospital, presented a comparative study between transoral endoscopic vestibular thyroid lobectomy and conventional open surgery. The findings demonstrated that the endoscopic approach not only ensures effective tumor control but is also minimally invasive and leaves no external scarring.

The second session, themed “Flap Reconstruction in Head and Neck Cancer,” focused on post-surgical reconstruction to restore function and aesthetics. Dr. Francesco Riva, maxillofacial surgeon and member of the British Medical Association, shared his experience in flap selection for maxillectomy cases to improve chewing function and facial appearance.

In the afternoon, the program continued with specialized sessions focusing on nerve injury management and aesthetic reconstruction, featuring presentations such as: “Management of Facial Nerve Injury: Static vs Dynamic Reanimation” – Dr. Sarah Al-Himdani (UK); “Open aesthetic structural Rhinoplasty” – Dr. Florian Bast (UK); “Microtia Reconstruction with Autologous Costal Cartilage” – Mr Bui Tuan Anh MD MSc, Deputy Head of Plastic Surgery Department, Hong Ngoc – Phuc Truong Minh General Hospital…along with several other noteworthy scientific topics.

The conference, held at Hong Ngoc – Phuc Truong Minh General Hospital, a pioneer in international medical collaboration, served as a professional bridge between British and Vietnamese experts through cooperation with Facing the World and the Hanoi ENT Society, enhancing head and neck cancer treatment capacity and promoting comprehensive, patient-centered care.