Turkish surgical centres perform total and partial glossectomies to remove tongue tumours according to the disease stage. Specialists use transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for minimally invasive removals. They also perform neck dissections to address lymph node spread and microvascular free flap reconstruction to restore speech and swallowing.
- Glossectomy types: Surgeons perform partial, hemi, or total removals based on tumour size.
- Neck dissection: Specialists remove lymph nodes to prevent cancer spreading to the neck.
- Robotic surgery: Centres like Medipol Mega use Da Vinci robots for precise oral incisions.
- Complex reconstruction: Surgeons use tissue from the thigh to rebuild the tongue after surgery.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Data shows that leading Istanbul centres, such as Anadolu Medical Center, maintain formal affiliations with Johns Hopkins Hospital. This means surgical protocols for advanced glossectomy meet global standards. Prof. Mehmet Emre Ustundag, for instance, provides total glossectomy packages that include full pre-operative diagnostics and anaesthesia consultations.
Patient Consensus: Patients in Turkey report that surgeons often combine glossectomy with neck dissections to remove all cancer. Reconstructive surgery using thigh tissue helps restore function, while massage helps manage post-op lymphoedema.