What is Surgical Oncology?

Surgical oncology is the part of surgery that deals with cancer. It's all about using surgery to treat tumours, especially cancerous ones.

Surgical oncology is a branch of surgery focused on the surgical treatment of cancer. It involves the removal of cancerous tumors and surrounding tissues, as well as performing biopsies for diagnosis and staging. The goal of surgical oncology can be curative (removing all cancerous tissue), palliative (relieving symptoms and improving quality of life), or diagnostic (obtaining tissue samples for analysis).

Principles of Surgical Oncology:

• Complete Resection: The primary goal is to remove the entire tumor with clear margins (meaning no cancer cells are found at the edge of the removed tissue).

• Lymph Node Dissection: Removal of nearby lymph nodes to determine if the cancer has spread.

• Minimally Invasive Techniques: Whenever possible, minimally invasive procedures like laparoscopy or robotic surgery are used to reduce recovery time and scarring.

• Multidisciplinary Approach: Surgical oncologists work closely with other specialists, including medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, and radiologists, to develop comprehensive treatment plans.

Classification by Anatomical Location:

Here's a breakdown of surgical oncology by anatomical location, with examples of common procedures:

1. Head and Neck Surgery:

• Cancers: Oral cavity, larynx (voice box), pharynx (throat), salivary glands, thyroid.

• Procedures:

  • Laryngectomy: Removal of the larynx.

  • Neck dissection: Removal of lymph nodes in the neck.

  • Thyroidectomy: Removal of the thyroid gland.

  • Maxillectomy/Mandibulectomy: Removal of part or all of the upper or lower jaw.

2. Breast Surgery:

• Cancers: Breast cancer.

• Procedures:

  • Lumpectomy: Removal of the tumor and a small amount of surrounding tissue.

  • Mastectomy: Removal of the entire breast.

  • Sentinel lymph node biopsy: Removal of the first lymph nodes that drain the breast to check for cancer spread.

  • Axillary lymph node dissection: Removal of lymph nodes in the armpit.

3. Thoracic Surgery (Chest):

• Cancers: Lung cancer, esophageal cancer, mesothelioma.

• Procedures:

  • Lobectomy: Removal of a lobe of the lung.

  • Pneumonectomy: Removal of an entire lung.

  • Esophagectomy: Removal of part or all of the esophagus.

4. Gastrointestinal Surgery:

• Cancers: Stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, esophageal cancer.

• Procedures:

  • Gastrectomy: Removal of part or all of the stomach.

  • Colectomy: Removal of part or all of the colon.

  • Hepatectomy: Removal of part or all of the liver.

  • Pancreatectomy: Removal of part or all of the pancreas.

5. Gynecologic Surgery:

• Cancers: Ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, cervical cancer.

• Procedures:

  • Hysterectomy: Removal of the uterus.

  • Oophorectomy: Removal of the ovaries.

  • Lymph node dissection: Removal of lymph nodes in the pelvis.

6. Urologic Surgery:

• Cancers: Prostate cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, testicular cancer.

• Procedures:

  • Radical prostatectomy: Removal of the prostate gland.

  • Nephrectomy: Removal of the kidney.

  • Cystectomy: Removal of the bladder.

  • Orchiectomy: Removal of the testicle.

7. Skin Cancer Surgery:

• Cancers: Melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma.

• Procedures:

  • Excision: Removal of the cancerous lesion and a margin of healthy tissue.

  • Mohs surgery: A specialized technique for removing skin cancer in layers, examining each layer under a microscope until no cancer cells remain.

8. Soft Tissue Sarcoma Surgery:

• Cancers: Sarcomas that arise in muscles, fat, connective tissue.

• Procedures: Wide local excision with removal of surrounding tissue.