Pediatric Head and Neck Cancer

At Winship, we believe that children should have the same access to the highest-quality care as their adult counterparts. As a result, we have partnered with colleagues from Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory Proton Therapy Center to bring together a wide range of specialists including pediatric otolaryngologists and head and neck surgeons, reconstructive surgeons, pediatric oral and maxillofacial surgeons, pediatric oncologists and radiation oncologists to treat pediatric tumors of the head and neck.

Our head and neck program was designed with the knowledge that patients do better when clinicians can interact and collaborate. In our clinic, patients can stay in one space and have multiple providers come to them during a single appointment.

The benefits of our multidisciplinary and highly experienced teams include:

• Access to leading experts in the treatment of pediatric tumors of the head and neck who rank among the top experts in the world.
• Weekly review of patient cases by a multidisciplinary team of specialists.
• Coordinated scheduling for appointments among various specialties.
• Availability of innovative treatment options through clinical trials in surgery, radiation and systemic therapy.
• Access to support programs and groups for you and your caregivers.

Request an Appointment

If your child has been diagnosed with a tumor of the head and neck, we are ready to help. Contact our Emory Head and Neck Multidisciplinary Clinic at (404) 778-0278 to request an appointment. Winship experts are available to provide a second opinion.

We understand that this is a very stressful time. We welcome your questions and requests for help.

At Winship, our multidisciplinary team of experts treat a variety of malignant tumors of the head and neck including sarcomas such as rhabdomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma, liposarcoma, angiosarcoma, desmoid tumor and others, as well as carcinomas such as squamous cell carcinoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, acinic cell carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma. Our experts also treat benign conditions including congenital tumors, salivary tumors and tumors of the jaw.

There are several ways your child's physician may diagnose for head and neck cancer:

• Physical examination.
• Imaging via CT, MRI or PET scans with reviews by head and neck cancer radiology experts.
• Endoscopy: flexible or rigid endoscopes are used to look for abnormal tissue throughout the head and neck.
• Biopsy: a small sample of tissue is examined by a pathologist under a microscope to look for cancerous cells.

Our head and neck specialists provide one or more of the following types of treatment:

Surgery: the main purpose of surgery for head and neck cancer patients is to remove the tumor and some of the healthy tissue around it so that there is an adequate margin of resection. Reconstructive surgical options are also discussed before the start of treatment.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be used in combination with surgery or radiation to maximize the treatment. It can also be used to treat advanced disease by itself or as part of a clinical trial program.

Radiation: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. It may also be used in combination with a chemotherapy drug that makes the radiation more effective.

Proton therapy: Proton therapy is the next generation of radiation oncology. It uses protons to treat cancerous tumors throughout the body and can be more targeted than conventional forms of radiation treatment. This can lead to fewer side effects. The Emory Proton Therapy Center is the only center of its kind in Georgia to offer patients access to this advanced radiation therapy. Learn about proton therapy for pediatric cancer.

Immunotherapy: At Winship, this type of treatment is available as a standard of care and uses your body's immune system to recognize and to enhance its ability to tackle cancer cells.

Targeted therapies: Winship's most promising research in treating head and neck cancer is in personalized medicine and targeted therapies. In targeted therapies, investigators look for new drugs that more selectively target cancer cells with fewer side effects.

Supportive Oncology Care

In addition to delivering the highest quality medical care, we recognize the importance of the psychological and emotional aspects of living with a cancer diagnosis and of dealing with treatment. Our supportive oncology team addresses these issues in a timely manner with additional support from counselors, nurse navigators, dietitians and social service professionals.