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Medical Care in China

Oral cancer
Treatment in China

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Precision ENT diagnosis and treatmentcovers diseases of the nose, ears, throat and head and neck.

Comprehensive ophthalmological treatmentcovers cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal diseases, etc.

Comprehensive oral restorationcovers implants, prosthodontics, and maxillofacial diseases.

Functional reconstruction supportsthe recovery of hearing, vision, and chewing functions.

Condition Guide

About Oral cancer

Understand the condition, common triggers and treatment options that may require specialist assessment.

Disease Introduction

Most oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas of the oral mucosa, which can occur on the lips, cheeks, tongue, floor of the mouth, gums, etc. Betel nut, tobacco and alcohol, and long-term stimulation from residual roots and crowns are high-risk factors. Typical manifestations include long-term non-healing oral ulcers, oral masses, pain and bleeding. It is prone to metastasis to cervical lymph nodes. Early detection and treatment lead to a better prognosis.

Cutting-edge high-precision diagnostic and treatment technologies

1. Extended resection of the primary lesion : Completely remove the oral lesion under the principle of radical tumor resection and ensure sufficient safe resection margins. Confirm the negative resection margins according to intraoperative frozen section pathology. If necessary, supplement with extended resection. This is the core step to local control, reduce postoperative recurrence and improve the cure rate. Whether the resection margins are negative directly determines the patient's prognosis.
2. Functional neck dissection : Selective or therapeutic neck dissection is performed according to the risk stratification of neck lymph node metastasis. While removing potential metastatic lymph node foci, important structures such as the accessory nerve, internal jugular vein and sternocleidomastoid muscle are routinely preserved, which significantly reduces postoperative shoulder movement restriction and neck shape damage, and takes into account both radical cure and function.
3. Microsurgical repair of free flaps : Using free flaps from the radial side of the forearm or the anterolateral thigh, the blood vessels in the donor and recipient areas are precisely anastomosed under a surgical microscope, immediately repairing postoperative soft and hard tissue defects in the oral cavity, restoring swallowing and speech functions, significantly improving the patient's postoperative quality of life and social reintegration ability, and is the mature gold standard for head and neck reconstruction.
4. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT ): IRT precisely focuses the radiation dose onto the tumor target area while significantly reducing the dose received by surrounding normal salivary glands, jawbone, and oral mucosa. It is used for postoperative adjuvant or radical treatment, which can reduce long-term sequelae such as dry mouth and radiation-induced osteonecrosis, and improve the quality of life after treatment.
5. Targeted immunotherapy : For recurrent or metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma, chemotherapy is combined with PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors as the basis, and targeted drugs are added when necessary. By relieving tumor immunosuppression, the lesions are controlled and the patient's survival is prolonged, which expands new treatment options and hope for patients with advanced and refractory disease.
6. 3D Printed Jawbone Reconstruction : Based on preoperative CT data, a personalized titanium prosthesis is 3D printed to reconstruct the removed jawbone defect, accurately restoring the continuity, height, and occlusion of the jawbone. Compared with traditional manual reconstruction, it fits better, has a shorter operation time, and a more symmetrical and aesthetically pleasing appearance. Postoperative follow-up examinations are required to evaluate the efficacy and safety.
7. Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Consultation : Head and neck surgery, radiation oncology, medical oncology, rehabilitation and nutrition departments jointly assess the extent of tumor invasion and clinical stage, and develop an individualized comprehensive plan that sequentially integrates surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and rehabilitation, avoiding each discipline working in isolation and improving overall efficacy and survival rate.

Care Overview

Oral cancer Treatment in China

The medical team will develop a personalized protocol based on the pathology type, stage, genetic test, previous treatment history, and the patient's physical condition.

1. Surgical repair with flap repair : Oral cancer that can be completely removed is mainly treated with surgical radical surgery. Immediately after surgery, a free flap is used to repair the defect, maximizing the restoration of eating and speaking functions, shortening the postoperative recovery period, and allowing patients to return to normal life as soon as possible.
2. Postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy : For patients with mid-to-late stage disease or those with high-risk recurrence factors such as insufficient surgical margins or lymph node metastasis, postoperative radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy can be used to reduce the local recurrence rate and the risk of distant metastasis, and consolidate the surgical efficacy. Regular follow-up examinations are required after surgery to assess the efficacy and safety.
3. Radical radiotherapy and chemotherapy : For patients with poor physical condition, who cannot tolerate surgery or are unwilling to undergo surgery, organ function preservation treatment based on concurrent chemoradiotherapy can be performed, taking into account both tumor control and post-treatment quality of life. Postoperative follow-up examinations are required to assess efficacy and safety.
4. Treatment of recurrence and metastasis : For patients with recurrence or distant metastasis, systemic treatment combining targeted therapy with immunotherapy and chemotherapy is used to control tumor progression, prolong survival, improve symptoms such as swallowing pain, and improve the quality of life in the late stage. Postoperative follow-up examinations are required to evaluate the efficacy and safety.
5. Jawbone Defect Reconstruction : After jawbone resection, vascularized osteomyelocutaneous flaps or 3D-printed personalized prostheses are used to reconstruct the skeletal morphology and occlusion, restore chewing function and facial appearance, avoid obvious postoperative deformities and malocclusion, and restore facial symmetry and chewing function.
6. Postoperative rehabilitation intervention : In the early postoperative period, systematic swallowing and speech function training should be carried out, along with nutritional support and psychological counseling, to improve the patient's postoperative quality of life and social reintegration ability, gradually restore communication and eating, and improve the patient's quality of life.

1. Radical tumor removal and defect repair : Microsurgical free flap repair of oral soft tissue defects, maximizing the restoration of eating and speaking functions;
2. Preserve important neck structures : Functional neck lymph node dissection reduces neck function impairment while managing the risk of metastasis;
3. Personalized jawbone reconstruction : 3D-printed custom prostheses restore jawbone shape and occlusal function;
4. Tiered and step-by-step treatment : Based on the early, middle and late stages of the disease, matching surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and targeted immunotherapy regimens are used;
5. New treatment options for advanced patients : Targeted immunotherapy offers new treatment opportunities for patients with relapse and metastasis;
6. Emphasize postoperative functional rehabilitation : provide swallowing and speech rehabilitation training to improve postoperative quality of life;
7. MDT (Multidisciplinary Team) Model : Unified assessment of tumor invasion extent and development of individualized comprehensive treatment plans.

Network of partner hospitals

Recommended Hospitals

Selected leading medical centers with strong specialties and international patient services.

Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

Beijing · Partner Hospital

Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

RehabilitationOrgan TransplantRare & Complex DiseasesOncologyGastroenterologyNeurologyUrologyInternal MedicineSurgeryHepatobiliaryOrthopedicsObstetrics & GynecologyENTCosmetic Surgery

In the ranking of Chinese hospitals released by the Fudan University Hospital Management Institute, Peking Union Medical College Hospital has topped the comprehensive ranking for more than ten consecutive years, and has twice ranked first in the national performance evaluation of tertiary public hospitals. Among the 42 specialties covered in the comprehensive specialty ranking, 28 of Peking Union Medical College Hospital's specialties are ranked in the top 10. Nine specialties, including pathology, rheumatology, obstetrics and gynecology, general surgery, neurology, nuclear medicine, emergency medicine, critical care medicine, and allergy, rank first in the country; several specialties, including radiology, anesthesiology, endocrinology, laboratory medicine, ultrasound medicine, and gastroenterology, rank second in the country. The hospital is a national center for the diagnosis and treatment of complex, critical, and rare diseases designated by the National Health Commission, a national demonstration base for higher medical education and standardized residency training, and a national core base for clinical medical research and technological innovation.

Year Founded: 1921
Beds: 3000

National Center for Stomatology, Peking University School of Stomatology

Beijing · Partner Hospital

National Center for Stomatology, Peking University School of Stomatology

ENT

As a "National Center for Stomatology," the hospital boasts a world-leading scale of stomatological medical services. It possesses all eight of the first batch of national key clinical specialty construction projects in stomatology, including Endodontics, Periodontology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Prosthodontics, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Oral Mucosal Diseases, and Implant Dentistry. The hospital is the National Center for Quality Management and Control of Stomatological Medicine, entrusted by the National Health Commission. It is the only stomatological hospital in China selected for the pilot program of modern hospital management system. It was among the first stomatological medical institutions nationwide to pass the Level 5 certification for electronic medical records, the Level 4A certification for interoperability, and the ISO 15189 international clinical laboratory certification.

Year Founded: 1941
Beds: 363

Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University (Shanghai ENT Hospital)

Shanghai · Partner Hospital

Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University (Shanghai ENT Hospital)

ENT

The hospital's Department of Otolaryngology is a national key clinical specialty and a national quality control center for otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, consistently ranking first in the national specialty rankings for over ten years. The Department of Ophthalmology is a key discipline of the Ministry of Education and a national key clinical specialty, consistently ranking among the top three in China and first in East China in the ranking of best hospital specialties for over ten years. The hospital is one of the world's largest centers for the diagnosis, treatment, and research of otolaryngological-head and neck diseases.

Year Founded: 1952
Beds: 894

Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital

Shanghai · Partner Hospital

Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital

RehabilitationInternal MedicineOrthopedicsENT

The hospital is a national orthopedic medical center, with orthopedics and sports medicine being two national key clinical specialties. Orthopedics is a national key discipline, one of the first batch of national key clinical specialties designated by the Ministry of Health, the Shanghai Clinical Medical Center for Trauma Orthopedics, and a key construction unit in Shanghai. In the Fudan University's ranking of Chinese hospital specialty reputation, orthopedics has consistently ranked among the top two nationwide for many years, placing it in the first tier. In the comprehensive ranking of China's hospital science and technology (STEM) values, it ranks around 25th nationwide.

Year Founded: 1904
Beds: 2556

Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Ninth People's Hospital

Shanghai · Partner Hospital

Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Ninth People's Hospital

ENTCosmetic Surgery

The Ninth People's Hospital boasts three national key disciplines: Stomatology, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and Orthopedics; nine national key clinical specialties; and four national "211 Project" key disciplines. It houses the National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, and the National Stomatological Center (Shanghai) will officially be established there in 2026. In the Fudan University ranking of Chinese hospitals, its Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery department has consistently ranked first nationwide for many years, its Stomatology department third, and its Otolaryngology and Ophthalmology departments among the top. It is a member of the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (IAOMS) and has multiple international training center designations.

Year Founded: 1920
Beds: 1820

Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University

Guangzhou · Partner Hospital

Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University

ENT

The center is the only ophthalmology hospital directly under the National Health Commission of China. It is China's only WHO Collaborating Centre for Eye Health and Vision and the only headquarters of international medical academic organizations in China (Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology and the Asian Office of the Asian-African Academy of Ophthalmology). For many consecutive years, the center has ranked first in ophthalmology among Chinese hospital specialty reputation rankings and has also ranked first in ophthalmology among Chinese hospital science and technology influence rankings. Furthermore, it is among the top ophthalmology institutions globally according to the Nature Index.

Year Founded: 1965
Beds: 320

Leading Specialists

Trusted Expertise Across Leading Specialties

Liu Yunsong

Professor and Vice Dean, specializing in prosthodontics and digital diagnosis and treatment

ENT

Research areas: Clinical, teaching and research in prosthodontics, digital restoration, and implant restoration. Cutting-edge technology: Has long been engaged in clinical, teaching, and research work in prosthodontics. Has led 15 national and provincial-level research projects as principal investigator, published over 0 papers as first/corresponding author, including 2 ESI highly cited papers, and was consecutively listed among the top 2% of scientists globally in 2023 and 2024. Has obtained over 30 nati

Affiliated Hospital National Center for Stomatology, Peking University School of Stomatology

Xu Gezhi

Chief Physician, Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, Former Director of Ophthalmology

ENT

-Research areas : vitreoretinal diseases, complex fundus surgery, severe ocular trauma; - Areas of expertise: 3D-navigated complex vitreoretinal surgery, repair of macular holes/recurrent retinal detachment; - Areas of expertise: Complex retinal detachment, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, high myopia macular degeneration, severe ocular rupture injury; - Academic Highlights & Core Values: Top domestic fundus surgeon, has completed numerous failed recurrent retinal detachment surgeries at other hospital

Affiliated Hospital Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University (Shanghai ENT Hospital)

Zhuo Yehong

Professor, Chief Physician, Doctoral Supervisor, and Leader of Glaucoma Department

ENT

-Research areas : Glaucoma optic nerve protection, hereditary glaucoma, and surgery for refractory glaucoma. - Cutting-edge technology: Glaucoma drainage valve/drainage pin implantation, comprehensive optic nerve protection program for advanced glaucoma. - Areas of expertise: Primary angle-closure/open-angle glaucoma, refractory glaucoma with multiple postoperative relapses, and congenital glaucoma. - Academic Highlights: Led the compilation of the Chinese expert consensus on glaucoma diagnosis and treatm

Affiliated Hospital Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University

Yi Hongliang

Chief Physician, Doctoral Supervisor

ENT

Research areas : obstructive sleep apnea, pharyngeal and head and neck tumors; Cutting-edge technology: Bimaxillary advancement (MMA) surgery for severe OSA; Areas of expertise: Severe snoring, pharyngeal tumors, pediatric snoring; Academic highlights: Leading expert in snoring surgery in China; Core value: Promoting precise OSA obstruction plane assessment to improve the surgical efficacy of severe snoring. Zhang Zhichang Associate Chief Physician, Doctoral Supervisor Research areas : Sacral and deep pel

Affiliated Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital

Liu Yizhi

Representative of the discipline's founders, Level 2 Professor, Chief Physician, Doctoral Supervisor

ENT

-Research areas : ocular stem cells and lens regeneration; pathogenesis and treatment of cataracts. - Cutting-edge technology: Twisting-mode phacoemulsification cataract surgery, bimanual micro-incision phacoemulsification. Human lens regeneration (a major global medical breakthrough in 201). - Areas of expertise: Congenital cataracts, traumatic cataracts, complex cataracts complicated with glaucoma/uveitis, and lens diseases. - Academic Highlights: Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophtha

Affiliated Hospital Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University

Feng Guodong

Chief Physician, Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, Deputy Director of Department, Leading Person in Otolaryngology

ENT

-Research areas : Middle ear diseases, lateral skull base diseases, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of tinnitus; - Areas of expertise: Cochlear implantation, ossicular chain reconstruction, and lateral skull base surgery; - Areas of expertise: Chronic otitis media, cholesteatoma, lateral skull base tumors, refractory tinnitus; - Academic Highlights & Core Values: Experts in promoting ear microsurgery techniques, focusing on multimodal comprehensive assessment of tinnitus and establishing individuali

Affiliated Hospital Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

Patient Stories

See the Next Step Through Patient Journeys

Skeletal Class III Malocclusion - Reshaping Your Smile and Restarting a Confident Life

CASE 01

PATIENT JOURNEY

Skeletal Class III Malocclusion - Reshaping Your Smile and Restarting a Confident Life

ENTCosmetic Surgery

Patient records Name: Nguyen Thi Lan Age: 22 years old Nationality: Vietnamese Diagnosis: Skeletal Class III malocclusion (underbite) Treatment Hospital: Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (Shanghai) Lan, a 22-year-old university student from Hanoi, Vietnam, is about to graduate. Despite her excellent grades, she suffers from severe underbite, which prevents her from smiling confidently and even affects her chewing and pronunciation. She dreams

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Cholesteatoma Otitis Media - Navigating the Fog and Regaining a New Voice Patient records

CASE 02

PATIENT JOURNEY

Cholesteatoma Otitis Media - Navigating the Fog and Regaining a New Voice Patient records

ENT

Patient records Name: Budi Santoso Age: 45 Nationality: Indonesia Diagnosis: Cholesteatoma-type otitis media (involving the ossicular chain) Treatment Hospital: Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University (Shanghai) Budi, a 45-year-old high school music teacher from Jakarta, Indonesia, had been suffering from recurring ear discharge and hearing loss for nearly a year. Worse still, he began to lose his ability to distinguish pitch, a devastating blow to his career. Local doctors diagn

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Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (macular involvement) - Redrawing light on a micrometer scale

CASE 03

PATIENT JOURNEY

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (macular involvement) - Redrawing light on a micrometer scale

ENT

Patient records Name: Arif bin Ismail Age: 58 Nationality: Malaysia Diagnosis: Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (macular involvement) Treatment Hospital: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University (Guangzhou) Arif, 58, from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is a watch repairer. His world consists of intricate gears and delicate hairsprings, requiring exceptional vision. However, a week ago, a fixed black shadow suddenly appeared in his right eye's field of vision, like a giant curtain obscuring half the s

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Oral cancerTreatment in China

Oral cancer Treatment in China

Recommended Hospitals

Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

National Center for Stomatology, Peking University School of Stomatology

Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University (Shanghai ENT Hospital)

Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital

Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Ninth People's Hospital

Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University

Trusted Expertise Across Leading Specialties

See the Next Step Through Patient Journeys

Skeletal Class III Malocclusion - Reshaping Your Smile and Restarting a Confident Life

Cholesteatoma Otitis Media - Navigating the Fog and Regaining a New Voice Patient records

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (macular involvement) - Redrawing light on a micrometer scale

A clear, coordinated process for efficient cross-border care

Pre-Visit Services

Remote Consultations

Travel Arrangements

Comprehensive Support in China

Post-Visit Services

Get a Care Planand Cost Estimate.

Get a Care Plan and Estimate

Oral cancer
Treatment in China

Get a Care Plan
and Cost Estimate.