SERVICES AND FACILITIES:
·         Staging and evaluation of all Head & Neck tumors
·         Flexible and Rigid diagnostic endoscopy with/without biopsy
·         Flexible laryngoscopy with Narrow band imaging
·         FNAC for all neck lymph nodes and lesions
·         Biopsies of the primary site and Core needle biopsies of neck mass
·         Direct laryngoscopy and biopsy

We work closely with the departments of Radiation oncology, Radio-diagnosis, Medical oncology, ENT, maxillofacial surgery, Neurosurgery and Nuclear medicine.
Head and Neck Surgery Unit-2 cares for patients with the following conditions:
1.      Benign, premalignant and malignant conditions of all oral cavity subsites
2.      Cancers of skin of head and neck
3.      Benign and malignant salivary gland tumours
4.      Carcinoma unknown primary – neck
5.      Benign and malignant conditions of the thyroid
6.      Congenital conditions like branchial cyst, sinus and fistula
7.      Benign swellings of the head and neck
8.      Parapharyngeal space tumours
9.      Periorbital tumours
10.  Infective conditions like tuberculous lymphadenitis and deep neck space infections
Specialised surgeries
1. Resection of cancer of all oral cavity subsites
2. All types of neck dissection
3. Reconstruction with local flaps and pedicled flaps
4. Advanced reconstructive techniques following cancer surgery, including microvascular surgery, free tissue transfer and customised reconstruction with computer-assisted 3D planning
5. All types of surgeries on the thyroid gland
6. All types of surgeries on the salivary glands
7. Excision of benign neck and facial swellings
8. Facial nerve reanimation techniques
9. Maxillofacial reconstruction
10. Emergency procedures
Outpatient services
HNS-2
We provide outpatient services on Mondays (08:00 am to 01:00 pm) and Thursdays (01:00 pm to 5:00 pm) on the 3rd floor of the OPD building (310). General and private appointments are available.
Clinical evaluation and nasopharyngolaryngoscopy are performed, in addition to wound care for the post-operative patients. A specially assigned swallowing therapist works with us to deliver speech and swallowing therapy to both out-patients and in-patients.
We also organise diet, general, and pre-operative patient counselling sessions by qualified nursing and paramedical staff to ensure a complete understanding of the disease process and the treatment offered to the patient.
Inpatient services
We admit patients in P2, O6E and A5 wards for general, semi-private and private beds. We also offer in-patient consultations for other departments.
Multidisciplinary Tumor Board evaluations
Every Monday afternoon, a multidisciplinary tumour board conference is held for discussion and consensus on managing head and neck cancer patients being treated in the institution.
Chittoor Campus
The operation rooms at CMC Chittoor Campus, about 30 km from the main hospital, are used weekly to operate upon selected patients present to the HNS-2 outpatient services. In-patient care is provided at the campus.
CMC Day Care (CDC)
The daycare facility at Sathuvachari, Vellore, is utilised for daycare operations under HNS-2.

Higher speciality training: M.Ch. Head and Neck Surgery and Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Head and Neck Surgery and Microvascular Reconstruction
The M.Ch. Head and Neck Surgery course, the first in the state of Tamil Nadu, was commenced at CMC Vellore in 2022. Post-graduated in ENT are admitted through the NEET SS examination. Our department also offers a highly specialised, rigorous, two-year fellowship program in Head and Neck Surgery and Reconstruction, one of the unique courses in the country providing training in advanced reconstruction and microvascular surgery. Eligible candidates who have completed MS/DNB in General Surgery or ENT are selected for the course. This course was begun in 2013, and the intake of students has increased from one to three per year. We focus on holistic training in the field to provide the best possible clinical, surgical, academic and research experience to our students.
The M.Ch. and Post-Doctoral Fellowship Registrars are an essential part of the unit, closely involved in all aspects of outpatient and in-patient care and counselling. They are a crucial part of the operating team, learning to perform surgeries of varying degrees of complexity. Special training programs in microvascular surgery equip them with the necessary skills to perform complex reconstructive procedures. They learn the nuances in decision-making, management of complications and rehabilitation of head and neck cancer patients. They work with various departments in the institution during their peripheral postings to acquire holistic knowledge of multidisciplinary cancer care. They are required to collaborate, complete, and publish research projects during their course. They also teach undergraduate and post-graduate students posted in the unit. Through lectures, seminars, journal clubs, head and neck group meetings, participation in CMEs and conferences, and a dissertation, evidence-based management is emphasised at every step of training.
Undergraduate medical training
Medical students are posted in Head and Neck Surgery Unit-2 as part of their surgical training from the 1st clinical year onwards. The prescribed curriculum teaches them the basic concepts of general and head and neck surgery. Apart from didactic lectures, clinics, and case presentations, the students present seminars, learn the basics of operative surgery and undergo structured evaluations at the end of the posting.
MBBS Students are also posted with us for a special, three-week surgical clerkship, where they are closely involved in the daily activities of the unit, including patient care and follow-up. They are also taught basic surgical skills, participate in surgeries and visit the surgical emergency for hands-on experience.  We aim to improve their understanding of the subject and instill in them a lifelong passion for the field of surgery.
M.S. post-graduate training
General Surgery registrars are posted to Head and Neck Surgery Unit-2 as part of their speciality postings in their surgical rotation. They are taught on the job, present seminars and papers, and are trained in diagnosing and managing the spectrum of diseases handled by the unit, including basic operative surgery and reconstruction principles. By the end of their posting, they achieve a reasonable level of proficiency in managing various head and neck disorders, which is expected of a competent general surgeon.
Training of Maxillofacial Surgeons
Maxillofacial surgeons under fellowship training in the Department of Dentistry attend HNS-2 as part of their peripheral postings. They participate in the routine activities of the unit and are trained to provide various dental services required during operations, including complex head and neck reconstructions.
Training of Nursing Staff
Members of the faculty conduct regular teaching programs and lectures at Continuing Nursing Education sessions to train nursing staff in efficient nursing care of the head and neck patient. Specialised head and neck surgical nurses in the unit supervise these activities and conduct public awareness campaigns and school health programs.
Head and Neck Oncology Group Meetings
Monthly academic meetings are conducted by the Head and Neck Oncology Group, an interdepartmental effort to update the various departments involved in caring for head and neck cancer patients about current guidelines and new research and to encourage interaction to develop or change management protocols in the institution. The departments included in the group are Head and Neck Surgery, Radiation Oncology, ENT, Pathology, Radiology, Dentistry and Nuclear Medicine.