Hong Kong incubator for new surgery to treat nasopharyngeal cancer

Ear, nose and throat doctors from Rigshospitalet and Hong Kong have joined forces to offer groundbreaking surgery to Danish patients with recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer. The surgical method, which was developed in Hong Kong, could now be on the way to Denmark

Just six months ago, the prognosis would have been gloomy for Danish patients who experience recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer after having ended radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments. But thanks to the Chinese connection of the Ear, Nose and Throat Department at Rigshospitalet, the prospect for curative treatment has improved for the five to ten Danes who experience recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer each year.

International collaboration
This particular surgical method has been developed and described in leading journals by the internationally acclaimed ear, nose and throat surgeon, Professor William Wei from Hong Kong, who was also responsible for the operations on the Danish patients.

Since October 2010, Rigshospitalet has sent three patients to Hong Kong, who have returned home after having undergone successful surgery. If it were up to Prof. Christian von Buchwald, MD at the Ear, Nose and Throat Department at Rigshospitalet, Danish doctors would learn the method so that the treatment could be offered in Denmark.

“Cancer treatment in Denmark has seen great advances in recent years and these deserve high praise. In the few cases where we do not have the necessary surgical skills, we send patients abroad, if possible. However, I do not think that we should continue to send patients off to China. Through our cooperation, we ourselves should learn the treatment methods so that we can offer patients the same treatment in Denmark”, says Prof.von Buchwald.

So far, Prof. Wei has demonstrated a good success rate after operating about 300 patients with recurrent cancer of the nasal pharynx.

Brief information about nasopharyngeal cancer
In most cases, nasopharyngeal cancer, which also occurs in younger people, is not discovered early. The cancer is typically discovered when a patient is admitted with reduced hearing, due to a blockage of the air passage in the Eustachian tube to the middle ear. Cancer of the nasal pharynx is the most frequent form of cancer in the southern part of China. The disease also occurs relatively frequently in Greenland. In Denmark it is quite rare.

Contact:
Prof. Christian von Buchwald
Buchwald@rh.dk