Welcome to the Head and Neck Tumour Centre of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm - CCCU!
As the largest tumour centre in the region, we treat all forms of malignant diseases in the head and neck area according to the latest diagnostic and therapeutic standards.
The most common malignant diseases in the head and neck area are squamous cell carcinomas of the upper respiratory and alimentary tract. Treatment requires a highly specialised team of doctors from various medical disciplines and a great deal of experience in tumour treatment - both of which are offered by the ENT Clinic at Ulm University Hospital.
As a cooperation partner of the oncology centre in the "Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm" (CCCU), the ENT Clinic at Ulm University is certified according to the criteria of the German Cancer Society (DKG). This means that treatment decisions are made on an interdisciplinary basis, i.e. jointly by specialised doctors from all necessary disciplines, in a weekly conference in accordance with the latest guidelines. The special characteristics of each individual patient are taken into account. All therapies follow recognised quality standards and are constantly updated in line with the latest research. Patients and their relatives are present during the tumour conference and have the opportunity to discuss treatment planning with the medical experts from radiotherapy, ENT surgery, internal medicine, radiology and pathology.
If you have been diagnosed with a malignant disease, we will first take care of organising the so-called staging. This means that the extent of the disease is determined by means of imaging and minor surgical procedures and another tumour is ruled out. This usually includes a CT or MRI scan of the neck, an X-ray of the lungs and an ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs. In addition, the trachea and oesophagus as well as the oral pharynx and larynx are examined directly under a short anaesthetic.
The next step is to present your case at our tumour conference. This always takes place on Mondays from 14:15. We encourage you to attend in person and bring your next of kin with you so that further treatment can be decided by mutual agreement.
The primary treatment options are usually surgery followed by radiotherapy (chemotherapy) or radiotherapy (chemotherapy) alone. Which therapy our experts recommend depends on the stage of your disease, but also on your individual wishes. The operation is carried out at our centre. For radiotherapy (chemotherapy), we cooperate with the radiotherapy clinic at Ulm University Hospital and other clinics in the region.
After treatment, there is the option of rehabilitation. The aim of the therapy depends on the localisation of the tumour and the associated possible functional impairment.
Once you have completed the treatment and the tumour has been removed, follow-up care follows. Regular check-ups are important in order to recognise and treat any recurrence of the disease at an early stage. The recommendation is to have a follow-up check every three months for the first two and a half years after the initial diagnosis and every six months for the following two and a half years. We are always there for you on Monday and Tuesday mornings. At these appointments, you will also have the opportunity to discuss any functional limitations caused by the tumour and its treatment and to find a therapy for them.
The people responsible for the tumour board, Prof. Dr. J. Greve, Prof. Dr. P. Schuler and PD Dr. S. Laban, as well as the entire medical team of the ENT clinic, are available to you as contact persons.
Organ-preserving therapies
Minimally invasive surgery
The use of modern surgical techniques such as laser surgery and robot-assisted surgery means that operations can be performed particularly gently and yet safely. With these new and highly precise methods, optimal function can be achieved after the operation.
Primary radiation (chemo)therapy
As an alternative to surgical therapy, a combination of radiotherapy with modern radiotherapy techniques (intensity-modulated radiotherapy - IMRT) and drug support can be used. We will be happy to advise you on which therapy makes sense in your individual case.
Tumour surgery including reconstructive surgery
In some cases, with more advanced tumour disease, complex and specialised operations must be performed. Sometimes reconstructive surgery is necessary to ensure better function after tumour surgery or to cover tissue defects. For example, tissue transplants from neighbouring or more distant regions of the body are used in a microvascular technique, which is carried out by a specialised team at the ENT clinic.
Drug tumour therapy
If a tumour is so advanced that metastases have spread to internal organs or removal of the tumour is no longer possible, progression of the disease can often be halted by special targeted drug therapies (e.g. antibodies). Our trained team of experts has the relevant experience and expertise in this field. We treat our patients every Wednesday in the interdisciplinary oncological day clinic (IOT) at Michelsberg. During the mostly weekly appointments, we also take care of all other aspects that are important during such therapy. For example, we provide our patients with the best possible pain therapy, help with nutritional issues and take the time to discuss further steps in treatment and possible options.
Prof. J. Greve, Prof. P. Schuler and Prof. S. Laban, who are responsible for the tumour board, as well as the entire medical team at the ENT clinic, are available to you as contact persons.
Psychological and social support
Tumour diseases represent a serious turning point in the lives of affected patients and their relatives. As we believe in holistic patient treatment, our team also includes psychologists who specialise in the care of cancer patients (psycho-oncologists).
Special attention is therefore paid to socio-medical and psycho-oncological care during the inpatient stay. We also support you in making contact with self-help groups(Kehlkopfoperierte e.V., Gesichtsversehrte e.V.) and take care of any necessary home care or support.
Oncological studies
In order to make therapies more effective and gentler, it is essential that they are further developed in clinical trials. This involves the use of novel drugs or treatment regimens whose safety has already been tested in preliminary trials. All studies are subject to high medical standards and are scrutinised by the ethics committee of the University of Ulm before they begin.
Parameters such as the quality of life before and after therapy, the tolerability of new therapy regimens or the response of new therapies in comparison to standard therapy are investigated.
Participation in clinical trials is always voluntary - after detailed counselling by a study doctor and sufficient time for reflection - and can be withdrawn at any time without giving reasons.
The study team consists of 7 study doctors and 2 study nurses who have undergone further training in "Good Clinical Practice" and can be contacted at any time by participating patients or their relatives.
Further information on our studies can be found here.
Further information on self-help groups, foundations and organisations
- Federal Association of Laryngectomees e.V.
- Federal self-help association for people with neck, head and face injuries TULPE e.V.
- German Society for Skull Base Surgery
- CURAC German Society for Computer and Robot Assisted Surgery e.V.
- ENT Oncology Working Group
- ASCO American Society of Clinical Oncology
- AHNS American Head and Neck Society
Contact & Appointments
Phone 0731 500-59570
You can reach us by telephone during our office hours:
Monday: 07:30 - 11:30am