About our Head, Neck & Thyroid Centre
London Bridge Hospital’s team of eminent consultants treat conditions and cancers affecting the mouth, larynx, nose, sinuses, thyroid glands and skin. A diverse group of tumours can affect the many complex structures that make up the head and neck.
Our Head, Neck and Thyroid multidisciplinary team carries out highly specialised treatment and surgery for cancers and benign tumours. Consultants’ expertise also include jaw, dental and reconstructive surgery. This rapidly advancing field of medicine can involve complex surgeries in the smallest and most delicate spaces of the head and neck – such as reconstructing a face from the inside, preserving its appearance and restoring a patient’s confidence, as well as their health.
Consultants with extensive experience
Mr Luke Cascarini
Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial / Head & Neck Surgeon
Mr Jean-Pierre Jeannon
Consultant Ear, Nose & Throat / Head & Neck Surgeon
Mr Johnathan Hubbard
Consultant Endocrine / Thyroid & General Surgeon
Some of the conditions treated:
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Mouth and throat cancers
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Thyroid and parathyroid conditions
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Tumours within the jaw
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Diseases of the salivary glands
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Skin cancers of the head and neck
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Multinodular goiter
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Osteoradionecrosis: post radiotherapy complications
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Impacted wisdom teeth
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Temporomandibular joint dysfunction
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Dysplasia: abnormal cells in the mouth
A collaborative, consultant-led approach
Each subspecialist consultant contributes appropriate care without delay at every stage: from specialised consultant radiologists identifying differential diagnoses; oncologists working with surgeons to optimise treatment pathways; to reconstructive surgeries and ongoing rehabilitation. The team consists of consultant surgeons and physicians and other healthcare professionals across a wide range of specialties:
- Ear, nose and throat (ENT)
- Endocrinology
- Maxillofacial
- Plastic surgery
- Oncology
- Anaesthetics
- Prosthodontics
- Radiology
- Histopathology (tissue analysis)
The latest surgical techniques
Our Head, Neck and Thyroid consultant surgeons perform and pioneer the latest surgical procedures. Minimally invasive techniques are used to remove hard-to-reach tumours, and large tumours can now be safely resected with good margins, and defects restored with microvascular, scarless reconstruction.
Surgeons have access to the most up-to-date technology, such as 3D printing to rehearse microscopic procedures and ensure precision and clear margins.
The highest standards of care for every patient
Our Head, Neck and Thyroid Centre is located at London Bridge Hospital’s Private Care at Guy’s unit. These state of the art private hospital facilities occupy the top four floors of Guy’s NHS Cancer Centre.
Here private en-suite bedrooms are complemented by Level 3 Intensive Care Units with consultant intensivists resident 24/7. These levels of safety are critical in the provision of such complex care, especially after long surgeries to remove tumours and perform intricate reconstructions.
Patients – and their families – are supported by a clinical nurse specialists (CNS) with deep clinical knowledge combined with compassion and the time to dedicate to each patient. They also provide continuity of care over the course of various treatment and rehabilitation phases. Completing the team are audiologists, physiotherapists, dietitians and speech and language therapists who create aftercare programmes and work intensively to speed recovery and help patients throughout their rehabilitation.
Rapid advanced diagnosis of head and neck lumps and bumps
Patients concerned about any lumps in the head and neck area have rapid access to our advanced diagnostic clinics. Run by a team of consultant radiologists and pathologists, working together in the clinic, cell and tissue samples can be taken, analysed and discussed immediately. Pathologists determine on the spot whether samples are adequate or more tests are required. This avoids patients needing a repeat visit. Cytopathology is fundamental to the diagnosis of head and neck lumps, including enlarged lymph nodes, thyroid nodules and lumps in the salivary glands. Consultant ENT and Maxillofacial surgeons can then swiftly determine the next stage of tests or treatment – often on the same day. And for unequivocally benign results, patients can be immediately reassured. Rapid on site evaluation (ROSE) is the gold standard of care to personalise and expedite accurate diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Contact one of our Head, Neck & Thyroid consultants for rapid access into our centre and services.
Glen Dixon
Clinical Director of Cytopathology
Trans-oral robotic surgery
Reconstruction and plastic surgery
Our Head, Neck and Thyroid consultant plastic surgeons and maxillofacial surgeons have unparalleled experience in reconstruction – crucial for the delicate and painstaking work for conditions affecting the head, face and neck. Surgical teams have extensive expertise in microvascular and free flap surgery where a patient’s bone, tissue and blood supply can be harvested from other parts of the body.
The limitations of skin grafts have led to the development of Free Flap Surgery which allows the transplant of any combination of skin, fat, muscle, fascia, bone from one part of the body (donor site) to another (recipient site) in this case the mouth or head and neck. This means that our surgeons can reconstruct, for example, a complete new tongue and jaw. At over 96%, our surgeons have among the highest success rates for free flap surgery in the world. Indeed the results achieved by our renowned Head, Neck and Thyroid team attract patients from around the world. Some of the techniques used in reconstruction:
- Skin grafts
- Free flap
- Radial forearm flap
- Antero-lateral thigh flap
- Scapular flap
- Deep Circumflex iliac artery flap
Head and neck Clinical Nurse Specialist
Denise is a Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNC) who supports patients with cancer. She has extensive experience in head and neck, neuro and skin cancers. CNSs have specialist training in their chosen fields and working alongside consultants, are a crucial support for patients and their families. They have the time to explain the often complex medicine as well as advising patients with any side effects and helping plan their treatment. No question or concern is ever too small or trivial.
Denise Cohn-Brown
Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist
Referring patients
Contact us
For patient appointments and enquiries email us or call: