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Cancer of the Head and Neck: Primary and Reconstructive Surgery.Dr. Richard T. Farrior (by invitation).
The alert otolaryngologist, by nature of the physical examination of his patient, should detect more primary neoplasms of the head and neck than any other specialist or general group. The otolaryngologist should acquaint himself with management of these tumors, whether or not he, himself, does the major surgery. If he is to understand the treatment of these lesions, whether large or small, he should be familiar with the methods of reconstruction available, as either primary or secondary procedures. A thorough knowledge of reconstructive aspects of this surgery allows the surgeon to be more radical in his initial excision or prevents him from being too timid, thus jeopardizing the possibility of cure.Primary reconstruction, where there would be a significant disturbance in function without its use, has much in its favor. Statistics show that the time of the initial surgery is the best opportunity for cure. Also, with some form of