What is a multidisciplinary second opinion – for head and neck tumors?
The second opinion multidisciplinary visit is a service offered by Humanitas Cancer Center for both national and international patients – with a diagnosis of head and neck cancer – looking for a second opinion from a specialized team composed of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons as well as radiologists and nuclear medicine specialists and pathologists. This service is intended for individuals who have received a diagnosis of a cancer in head and neck region but are unable to reach our hospital due to clinical, physical, or distance-related reasons.
This way, patients can undergo the necessary multidisciplinary consultations from the comfort of their own home, with the possibility of follow-up in-person visits and exams if needed. Through a secure and encrypted channel, patients can safely share essential documents such as diagnoses and medical reports with doctors.
What is the purpose of the second opinion visit for head and neck tumors?
The multidisciplinary second opinion is useful for the review of a previous head and neck cancer diagnosis, by a specialized team of oncologists, surgeons, along with the expertise of radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians and pathologists. The goal is to determine the most appropriate care plan or to evaluate the different treatment options. This type of visit is different from a single specialist consultation, as it allows the patient to receive diagnostic and/or therapeutic guidance that results from a collective discussion among experts in a multidisciplinary team.
The visit also offers an opportunity to assess the availability of innovative clinical trials for the treatment of the patient’s condition.
The diagnosis in question may concern any type of tumor in the head and neck region, such as:
- tumors of the oral cavity (tongue, lips, mucosa, palate, and mouth)
- tumors of the pharynx (oropharynx, nasopharynx, and hypopharynx)
- tumors of the larynx
- tumors of the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses
- tumors of the salivary glands (parotid, sublingual, submandibular, and minor salivary glands)
- tumors of the ear and temporal bone
- tumors of the neck lymph nodes
- thyroid and parathyroid tumors
- non-melanoma skin cancers of the head and neck (basal cell carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma)
- skull base tumors (basicranial tumors)
The multidisciplinary team will review the documentation submitted by the patient along with their medical history, taking into account symptoms and clinical background. At the end of the multidisciplinary second opinion process, the specialists will guide the patient toward the most appropriate clinical pathway based on their specific needs.
The patient will participate in a first video call with the specialists of the multidisciplinary team, so that they will evaluate any further diagnostic tests or possible options of treatment of the oncological condition. In particular, the teleconsultation is essential for all those patients who, for various reasons, are unable to travel to the hospital for an in-person visit.
The documentation required to access the service includes:
- Medical records confirming the diagnosis of a head and neck cancer (lesions of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, salivary glands, nose or throat, skin of the face or scalp, neck);
- Histopathological examination report;
- Any radiological reports, preferably accompanied by the corresponding imaging;
- Any relevant blood test results.
