Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery
Head and Neck Surgical Oncology
Head and neck cancers are a diverse group of diseases that affect the mouth, throat, voice box, salivary glands, nose, sinuses, skin, thyroid, and other structures of the head and neck. Many of these conditions are uncommon and often benefit from treatment at a specialized academic cancer center.
The USF Health Head and Neck Cancer Program, in partnership with Tampa General Hospital, provides comprehensive care for patients with head and neck cancers as well as complex benign conditions, including thyroid disease, salivary gland tumors, neck masses, and skull base disorders. Our fellowship-trained surgeons offer expertise in advanced cancer surgery, minimally invasive techniques, robotic surgery, skull base surgery, and complex reconstruction aimed at restoring function and quality of life after treatment.
Highlights of our program
Multidisciplinary care in coordination with the TGH Cancer Institute
Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and other minimally invasive techniques
Expertise in thyroid, parotid, and salivary gland surgery
Advanced microvascular and other reconstructive techniques
Access to clinical trials and emerging therapies
Comprehensive speech, swallowing, nutrition, rehabilitation, and survivorship services
Comprehensive care from diagnosis through survivorship
Every patient's cancer is unique. Treatment options continue to evolve and may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of these approaches. At USF Health and Tampa General Hospital, patients have access to established treatments as well as emerging therapies and clinical trials when appropriate. Our team continuously evaluates new evidence and treatment advances to ensure patients receive the highest standard of care.
Head and neck cancers can affect speaking, swallowing, breathing, nutrition, appearance, and many aspects of daily life. Because of this, effective treatment requires a coordinated team of specialists focused on every stage of care.
The USF Health and Tampa General Head and Neck Program brings together head and neck surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, speech-language pathologists, nutrition specialists, rehabilitation providers, nurse navigators, and supportive care teams within a single integrated academic health system. The close integration of our surgical, medical, radiation, rehabilitation, and supportive care teams allow patients to receive comprehensive cancer care within one coordinated program.
In addition to cancer treatment, patients have access to specialized speech and swallowing rehabilitation, nutrition support, reconstructive surgery, survivorship resources, and clinical trials throughout their care journey.
From diagnosis through treatment, recovery, and survivorship, our team works together to create a personalized care plan focused not only on achieving the best possible cancer outcomes, but also on preserving speech, swallowing, appearance, nutrition, and overall quality of life.
Whether treatment involves surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or a combination of therapies, patients benefit from coordinated care delivered across the full continuum of cancer treatment and recovery.
Grateful Patient Stories
For most children, a loose tooth usually means a visit from the Tooth Fairy. But for Aubrey Romero of Bradenton, it was a sign of something more serious, cancer.
Aubrey, 8, had Odontogenic Ghost Cell Carcinoma, a very rare head and neck cancer. Less than 100 cases have been documented in the last 50 years and almost none involved children.
Allen Parent, of Brookville, Fla., was diagnosed with squamous cell mouth cancer, a head and neck cancer, and referred for treatment to Dr. Matthew Mifsud, a USF Health head and neck surgeon and otolaryngologist, and Dr. Julia Toman, a USF Health facial plastic surgeon. Watch to see Mr. Parent's journey from cancer diagnosis, to treatment and to the removal of his scars from the treatments.
Conditions, treatments and care
Head and neck cancers
Oral cavity cancer (tongue, gums, floor of mouth, cheek, and palate)
HPV-related throat cancer (oropharyngeal cancer)
Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer
Nasopharyngeal cancer
Nasal cavity and sinus cancer
Salivary gland cancer
Thyroid cancer
Advanced skin cancer and melanoma involving the head, face, and neck
Sarcomas and other rare head and neck tumors
Recurrent head and neck cancer
Cancer that has spread to lymph nodes in the neck
Benign and complex head and neck conditions
Thyroid nodules and thyroid tumors
Parotid and salivary gland tumors
Neck masses and enlarged lymph nodes
Congenital neck cysts and developmental neck masses
Osteoradionecrosis and osteomyelitis of the jaw
Benign tumors of the mouth, neck, and salivary glands
Vascular malformations and vascular tumors
Skull base tumors
Facial and jaw conditions requiring reconstruction
We provide the following treatments:
Thyroid surgery and thyroidectomy
Minimally invasive parotidectomy and salivary gland surgery
Surgical treatment of oral cavity, tongue, jaw, and throat cancers
Transoral robotic surgery (TORS)
Laser surgery for selected head and neck tumors
Neck dissection and lymph node surgery
Sentinel lymph node biopsy for selected cancers
Skull base and sinonasal tumor surgery
Mandibular and maxillary reconstruction
Microvascular free-flap reconstruction
Facial and soft tissue reconstruction
Treatment of recurrent and previously treated head and neck cancers
Surgery for complex benign tumors and neck masses
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For more questions about care or to schedule an appointment by phone, please call: (813) 821-8029.