Head and Neck Surgery

What we do

The Department of Head and Neck Surgery specializes in the surgical and medical management of both benign and malignant tumors arising in the head and neck region—specifically above the clavicle, excluding the brain, eyes, and cervical spine. Our primary focus includes tumors of the nasal cavity, oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, and neck.

Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Team Care (Head & Neck Cancer Board)

Optimal treatment for head and neck malignancies requires a combined, multimodal approach using surgery, radiation therapy, and pharmacotherapy (chemotherapy and immunotherapy).

Interdisciplinary Conferences: We hold regular interdisciplinary case conferences (Head and Neck Cancer Board and Pathology Conferences) with Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Pathology to formulate personalized, evidence-based treatment plans.
Collaborative Surgical & Medical Teams: When complex resections or reconstructions are needed, we perform joint surgeries with Neurosurgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Gastroenterological Surgery, and Thoracic Surgery. Critical care and systemic patient management are supported by Intensive Care, Pediatrics, and Internal Medicine specialists.

(Updated: January 8, 2025 | Medical Lead: Dr. Tadashi Sugasawa, Director of Head and Neck Surgery)

Conditions we handle

We provide specialized diagnostic and surgical management for benign and malignant neoplasms of the head and neck, including:

Nasal & Paranasal Sinus Cancers: Maxillary sinus cancer, nasal cavity tumorsNasal & Paranasal Sinus Cancers: Maxillary sinus cancer, nasal cavity tumors

Oral Cancers: Tongue cancer, floor of mouth, buccal mucosa, and gum cancers

Pharyngeal Cancers: Nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and hypopharyngeal cancers

Laryngeal Cancer: Vocal cord and voice box cancers

Salivary Gland Tumors: Parotid gland tumors, submandibular gland tumors

Endocrine & Neck Tumors: Thyroid and parathyroid tumors, carotid body tumors, parapharyngeal space tumors

Complex Skull Base & Ear Cancers: Auditory canal/temporal bone cancers, skull base tumors

Number of cases

Total Outpatient Visits: 15,021 patients
Total Inpatient Admissions: 4,530 patient days (or admissions)

(FY2024 Results)

List of Doctors

Chief of Head and Neck Surgery，Adviser of Otorhinolarygology(ENT)

Seiji KISHIMOTO

Subspeciality
Head and Neck Surgery， Thyroiditis Surgery， Skull Base Surgery， Broncho-esophagological

Department name	Head and Neck Surgery
Medical School	Kyoto University Faculty of Medicine
Special Qualifications	Board Certified Specialist of The Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Society of Japan Board Certified Physician and Certified Specialist of Japanese Broncho-Esophagological Society Board Certified Specialist of The Japan Endocrine Society Board Advanced Certified Specialist of Japan Society for Head and Neck Surgery
Education & Career	1973.Sep. Graduated from Kyoto University Faculty of Medicine 1973.Dec. Residency in Kyoto University Hospital 1974.Sep. Tenri Hospital 1978.Oct. Research Associate of Otolaryngology， Kyoto University Faculty of Medicine 1982.Oct. Assitant Chief of Otolaryngology， Shizuoka General Hospital 1985.May. Lecturer of Otolaryngology， Kochi Medical School 1989.Oct. Assistant Professor of Operation Department， Kochi Medical School 1997.Sep. Assitant Chief of Skull Base Surgery， National Cancer Center Hospital East 1998.May. Chief of Operation Department， National Cancer Center Hospital East 1999.Apr. Professor of Head and Neck Surgery， Tokyo Medical and Dental University 2012.Apr. Chief of Head and Neck， Center for Head and Neck and Skull Base Tumors 2014.Apr. Chief of Head and Neck Surgery， Chief of Center for Head and Neck and Skull Base Tumors， Kameda Medical Center 2014， May. Contract Professor of Head and Neck Surgery， Tokyo Medical and Dental University 2015， Apr. Clinical Professor of Faculty of Medicine，Tokyo Medical and Dental University

Chief of Otolaryngology

Ken AKASHI

Subspeciality
Head and Neck Surgery

Department name	Head and Neck Surgery
Medical School	Faculty of Medicine， The University of Tokyo
Special Qualifications	Board Certified Specialist and Advanced Certified Speialist of The Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Society of Japan， Inc. Board Certified Specialist of Japan Society for Head and Neck Surgery Board Certified Physician of Japanese Board of Cancer Therapy
Education & Career	2003 Mar. Graduated from Faculty of Medicine， The University of Tokyo 2003 May. Resident of Otolaryngology， The University of Tokyo Hospital 2005 Apr. Otolaryngology， Tokyo Metropolitan Fuchu Hospital 2007 Apr. Head and neck， Gunma Prefectural Cancer Center 2008 Jul. Otolaryngology， Sanraku Hospital 2009 Apr. Head and neck， National Cancer Center Hospital East 2012 Apr. Graduate School of Medicine， The University of Tokyo 2015 Apr. Otolaryngology， The University of Tokyo Hospital 2016 Apr. Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology， The University of Tokyo Hospital 2019 Jan Chief of Otolaryngology And Head and Neck Surgery

Chief of Otolaryngology

Atsushi OCHI

Subspeciality
Otolaryngology

Department name	Head and Neck Surgery
Medical School	Faculty of Medicine， The University of Tokyo
Special Qualifications	Board Certified Specialist and Certified Advanced Specialist of The Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Society of Japan， Inc.
Education & Career	2000.Mar. Graduated from The University of Tokyo 2000.May. Residency in The University of Tokyo Hospital 2001.Aug. Hitachi General Hospital 2003.Apr. Tokyo Metropolitan Bokuto Hospital 2005.Apr. The University of Tokyo Hospital 2006.Apr. Tokyo Metropolitan Fuchu Hospital 2007.Apr. Graduated from Graduate School of Medicine， The University of Tokyo 2011.Apr. The University of Tokyo Hospital 2012.Apr. Chief of Otolaryngology， Kameda Medical Center

Andrology