Collaboration between different medical specialties is of particular importance in
order to offer patients the best possible treatment.
In the presentation entitled “Interdisciplinary plastic and reconstructive surgery
of
squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck” (1) by Prof. Dr. Marcus Lehnhardt,
Bochum, and Prof. Dr. Stefan Remmert, Duisburg, reconstruction techniques for tissue
loss after resection of head and neck tumors are explained.
Prof. Rüdiger Gerlach, M.D., Erfurt, and Dr. Vittorio Rampinelli, M.D., Ph. D.,
Brescia (IT) provide an overview of the current concepts for the “Interdisciplinary
treatment of skull base tumors” (2). In addition, the authors present typical
endoscopic skull base approaches based on their surgical experience and describe
representative cases.
Prof. Dr. med. Anja Eckstein, Essen, and Prof. Dr. med. Dr. med. dent. Hans-Jürgen
Welkoborsky, Hannover, give an overview of inflammatory diseases of the orbita,
orbital tumors and surgical approaches in their presentation entitled
“Interdisciplinary treatment of orbital diseases” (3). The diagnosis and treatment
of diseases of the orbita are emphasized as an interdisciplinary task.
The review article “The interdisciplinary treatment of skin cancer” (4) by Prof. Dr.
med. Susanne Wiegand, Leipzig, and Prof. Dr. med. Dirk Schadendorf, Essen, addresses
skin tumors in the head and neck area, whose adequate diagnosis and treatment
require close cooperation of the disciplines.
Vascular anomalies in our specialty pose a particular diagnostic and therapeutic
challenge. Prof. Dr. med. Stefan Mattheis, Essen, and Prof. Dr. med. Isabel Wanke,
Zurich (CH), will contribute to a better understanding of this entity with their
presentation on “Interdisciplinary management of vascular anomalies in the head and
neck ” (5) and will also shed light on the molecular biological principles
involved.
“Reconstructive surgery of the laryngotracheal junction” (6), from endoscopic
treatment options to open reconstruction for laryngotracheal stenoses, will be
explained by Prof. Christian Sittel, MD, Stuttgart, Prof. Assen Koitschev, MD,
Stuttgart, Dr. Carola Schön, MD, Munich, and Prof. Karl Reiter, MD, Munich.
Dr. med. Cornelius Kürten, Essen, and Prof. Robert L. Ferris, M.D., Ph. D.,
Pittsburgh (PA, US), will present the concept of “Neoadjuvant immunotherapy for head
and neck squamous cell carcinoma” (7), which offers hope for improved survival rates
for these patients in the future. Checkpoint inhibitors are of particular importance
here.
In the presentation on “Pediatric Rhinology” (8), Prof. Stephan Hackenberg, MD,
Würzburg, and Prof. Helge Hebestreit, MD, Würzburg, will highlight new aspects of
the diagnosis and treatment of rhinological diseases, especially in children.
I look forward to welcoming you, dear colleagues from Germany and all over the world,
to a congress full of knowledge transfer, networking and inspiration in the heart
of
the Ruhr region from May 8 to 11, 2024.
Kind regards,
