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Tongue 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 Tongue cancer

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

Disease Introduction

Squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue is the most common type of tongue cancer, which often occurs on the lateral side of the tongue. Betel nut, tobacco, alcohol, and repeated friction and stimulation from teeth are high-risk factors. Symptoms include long-term non-healing ulcers, tongue masses, pain and bleeding, limited tongue movement, and early metastasis to cervical lymph nodes.

Cutting-edge high-precision diagnostic and treatment technologies

1. Extended resection of primary lesion of tongue : Completely remove the tongue tumor while ensuring sufficient safe resection margins. The scope and level of resection are determined according to the depth of tumor infiltration, taking into account both radical tumor removal and preservation of tongue movement, swallowing and speech functions, so as to maximize the improvement of the patient's postoperative speech and eating quality of life. The resection margins need to be confirmed by intraoperative frozen section.
2. Functional neck lymph node dissection : Selective neck lymph node dissection is performed concurrently based on the high risk of neck lymph node metastasis in tongue cancer. Potential metastatic lymph nodes are removed in a standardized manner, while important blood vessels, nerves and accessory nerves are preserved to reduce postoperative neck function impairment and shoulder movement disorders, and reduce the risk of regional recurrence.
3. Microsurgical repair of free flaps : Free flaps from the forearm or anterolateral thigh are used to precisely anastomose blood vessels under a microscope to repair tongue defects, restore tongue volume and mobility, create favorable anatomical and activity conditions for postoperative speech and swallowing function reconstruction, and improve postoperative self-care ability.
4. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT ): IRT is used as adjuvant therapy after surgery or in cases where surgery is not an option. It precisely targets the tumor bed, protecting surrounding normal tissues, reducing local recurrence rates, and alleviating adverse reactions such as dry mouth and oral mucositis, thus improving treatment tolerance. This enhances treatment tolerance and ensures a better quality of life.
5. Immunotargeted therapy : For recurrent and metastatic tongue cancer, the treatment is based on PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with chemotherapy, and targeted drugs may be added when necessary. By relieving immunosuppression, the survival of advanced patients can be prolonged, tumor progression and local symptoms can be controlled. Postoperative follow-up examinations are required to evaluate the efficacy and safety.
6. Three-dimensional reconstruction of tongue defects : Optimize the shape and volume of the tongue by using digital surgical design and microsurgical transplantation technology, restore the tongue's stirring, pushing and articulation functions as much as possible, improve postoperative speech clarity and eating efficiency, take into account both appearance and function, improve quality of life, and improve postoperative eating and speech functions.
7. Speech and Swallowing Rehabilitation : Postoperatively, a rehabilitation therapist will systematically conduct tongue movement, articulation, and swallowing function training, with regular assessments. This will be combined with necessary instrument assistance and home training to maximize speech clarity and feeding safety, reducing postoperative communication and eating difficulties. This will help patients gradually resume daily communication.

Care Overview

Tongue 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. Local extended resection : For early-stage, small, and superficial tongue cancer, local extended resection is performed to preserve most of the tongue tissue, resulting in minimal functional impact and a good prognosis. Postoperative follow-up examinations of the oral cavity and neck are necessary to detect recurrence early. Regular follow-up examinations are required to assess the efficacy and safety of the treatment.
2. Partial or partial lingual resection and repair : For mid-to-late stage tongue cancer, partial or partial lingual resection is performed, with simultaneous free flap repair of tongue defects. This restores tongue shape and basic motor function, laying a good foundation for speech and swallowing rehabilitation. It improves long-term survival and prognosis for patients.
3. Simultaneous neck lymph node dissection : For patients with high-risk factors for lymph node metastasis, simultaneous functional neck dissection is performed to standardize the prevention and control of neck metastasis, reduce the probability of postoperative recurrence, and improve long-term survival and prognosis. This lays a good foundation for rehabilitation.
4. Postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy : Postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy are used to supplement patients with high risk of recurrence in the middle and late stages of the disease, further reducing the risk of local recurrence and distant metastasis, consolidating the radical cure effect of surgery, and improving the survival rate. Regular follow-up examinations are required after surgery to evaluate the efficacy and safety.
5. Treatment of recurrence and metastasis : Recurrent or metastatic tongue cancer is treated with systemic therapy based on PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with chemotherapy to control tumor progression, prolong patient survival, improve symptoms such as eating and pain, and improve quality of life.
6. Postoperative speech and swallowing rehabilitation : After surgery, systematic speech and swallowing rehabilitation training is carried out, with regular guidance and assessment by rehabilitation therapists to reduce postoperative speaking and eating difficulties, help patients gradually restore their daily communication and eating abilities, and reduce postoperative communication barriers.

1. Preserve tongue function to the greatest extent : Repair tongue defects with microsurgical free flaps to preserve tongue movement, speech, and swallowing ability as much as possible;
2. Balancing radical tumor resection with neck function : Functional neck dissection removes potential metastatic lymph nodes and reduces neck function impairment;
3. Good prognosis with early surgery : Early-stage tongue cancer can be effectively treated with surgery;
4. Comprehensive treatment for mid-to-late stage patients improves survival : Surgery combined with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted immunotherapy improves the survival benefits for patients with mid-to-late stage patients;
5. Specialized rehabilitation to improve quality of life : Speech and swallowing rehabilitation training to reduce postoperative speech and eating difficulties;
6. Emphasize the prevention and control of cervical metastasis : Standardize the assessment and management of high-risk lymph node metastasis to reduce the probability of recurrence;
7. Multidisciplinary collaborative diagnosis and treatment : Head and neck surgery, radiotherapy, and rehabilitation departments jointly develop individualized 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

View case details →

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Tongue cancerTreatment in China

Tongue 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

Tongue cancer
Treatment in China

Get a Care Plan
and Cost Estimate.