Tonsil Cancer - Ozan Seymen Sezen

Tonsil Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Tonsil Cancer: Tonsils are important lymphoid tissues located in the defense line of our immune system at the entrance of the mouth and throat. However, in some cases, malignant cell changes may occur in these tissues, leading to the development of tonsil cancer. Tonsil cancer has an important place among head and neck cancers, and if not detected and treated early, it can lead to serious health problems.

ENT Specialist Prof. Dr. Ozan Seymen, who serves in his own clinic in Istanbul, offers his patients high success rates with modern diagnostic methods, scientific protocols, and individualized treatment approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of tonsil cancer.

In this article, we will comprehensively cover all the details such as what tonsil cancer is, why it occurs, what its symptoms are, how it is diagnosed, and which treatment methods are applied.

What is Tonsil Cancer?

Tonsil cancer is a malignant tumor that occurs as a result of abnormal growth and uncontrolled proliferation of cells that form the tonsil tissue. The squamous cell carcinoma (flat cell cancer) type is usually seen. More rarely, lymphoma types or other malignant tumors can also develop in the tonsils.

Tonsil cancer forms an important subgroup within oral cavity and oropharyngeal (the part of the throat that opens into the oral cavity) cancers.

It may not show symptoms in the early stages, therefore, careful monitoring of changes in oral and throat health is of great importance for early diagnosis.

Causes and Risk Factors of Tonsil Cancer

Many different factors can play a role in the development of tonsil cancer. Among these, the most common risk factors are:

Smoking: Smoking significantly increases the risk of cancer development in cells in the mouth and throat region.

Alcohol consumption: Especially alcohol consumption together with smoking multiplies the risk even more.

HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) infection: In recent years, HPV infection has increased the incidence of tonsil cancer, especially in young adults.

Poor oral hygiene: Neglecting oral and dental health can increase the risk of cancer by increasing chronic inflammation.

Immune system suppression: Risk increases in conditions where the immune system is weakened due to organ transplantation, HIV, etc.

Genetic predisposition: Having a family history of head-neck region cancer can increase individual risk.

Prof. Dr. Ozan Seymen evaluates tonsil cancer risk factors and provides his patients with the necessary precautions and screening protocols for early diagnosis.

What are the Symptoms of Tonsil Cancer?

Tonsil cancer may not give clear symptoms in early stages. However, as it progresses, the following symptoms may appear:

Unilateral sore throat: Pain that worsens especially when swallowing and does not go away.

Enlargement of the tonsils: Significant enlargement or asymmetry in one tonsil compared to the other.

Ear pain: Referred pain in the ear due to a tumor in the throat.

Difficulty swallowing: Difficulty when swallowing solid or liquid foods.

Feeling of mass in the throat: Feeling of a foreign body or blockage.

Swelling in the neck: Painless swelling in the neck that can be felt as a result of spread to the lymph nodes.

Bleeding: Bloody saliva or blood from the mouth from the tonsil area.

Bad breath: May occur due to infection and necrosis in advanced tumors.

If one or more of these symptoms are present, it is necessary to consult a specialist ENT physician. Prof. Dr. Ozan Seymen meticulously evaluates his patients’ complaints for early diagnosis and initiates a rapid diagnostic process.

How is Tonsil Cancer Diagnosed?

Early and accurate diagnosis in tonsil cancer directly affects the course of the disease and the success of treatment. The steps applied in the diagnostic process are:

Clinical examination: The presence of suspicious masses is investigated with endoscopic examination of the mouth and throat area.

Imaging methods: The spread of the tumor and whether there is metastasis in the lymph nodes are evaluated with methods such as CT (Computed Tomography), MR (Magnetic Resonance), or PET-CT.

Biopsy: For definitive diagnosis, a tissue sample taken from the suspicious mass is examined pathologically.

HPV tests: The treatment plan can be shaped by investigating the presence of HPV infection in some tonsil cancers.

Prof. Dr. Ozan Seymen quickly organizes advanced examinations in suspicious cases, preventing delay in diagnosis and ensuring treatment is initiated at the right stage.

Tonsil Cancer Stages and Their Importance

The staging of tonsil cancer is of critical importance in terms of determining how far the disease has spread in the body and how treatment planning will be done.

The staging system is usually done using the TNM system (T: Tumor size, N: Lymph node involvement, M: Presence of distant metastasis):

Stage 0: Cancer is still very small and limited, has not shown invasion.
Stage I: Small, localized tumor, has not spread to lymph nodes.
Stage II: The tumor is somewhat larger or has shown limited spread to neighboring tissues.
Stage III: The tumor is large and there may be spread to lymph nodes on the same side.
Stage IV: Cancer that shows wide spread, with metastasis to opposite side lymph nodes or distant organs.

Staging is extremely important for determining the patient’s survival rates and selecting the most appropriate treatment protocol.

Prof. Dr. Ozan Seymen meticulously conducts staging studies in his patients diagnosed with tonsil cancer and carries out personalized treatment planning.

Treatment Options in Tonsil Cancer

The goal in tonsil cancer treatment is both to completely eliminate the tumor and to preserve the patient’s quality of life. Treatment selection is made according to the stage of the disease, the patient’s general health condition, and the biological characteristics of the tumor.

The main treatment options are:

Surgical treatment
Radiotherapy
Chemotherapy
Targeted therapies (especially in HPV positive cases)

Often these treatments are applied in combination.

Surgical Treatment in Tonsil Cancer

Surgical treatment is one of the most effective methods in the early stages of tonsil cancer. The goal is to completely remove the cancerous tissue and, if necessary, to clean the neck lymph nodes.

Surgical methods applied:

Tonsillectomy: Complete removal of the tonsil in early stage cases where the tumor is limited.

Complex resection: Extensive resection in case the tumor has spread to neighboring tissues.

Neck dissection: Surgical removal of lymph nodes in the neck in cases where lymph node metastasis is detected.

Thanks to modern surgical techniques, both tumor control is achieved and functional losses are kept to a minimum.

Prof. Dr. Ozan Seymen meticulously determines surgical margins in each of his patients, aiming for safe and effective surgical results.

Radiotherapy in Tonsil Cancer

Radiotherapy is a treatment method that aims to destroy cancer cells using high-energy rays.

Radiotherapy in tonsil cancer can be applied;

As adjuvant therapy after surgery,
As an alternative to surgery in advanced stages,
For the purpose of reducing the tumor.

Modern radiotherapy techniques such as IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy) provide high-dose radiation to the tumor area without damaging healthy tissues.

Prof. Dr. Ozan Seymen correctly plans the need and timing of radiotherapy by evaluating his patients with a multidisciplinary approach.

Chemotherapy in Tonsil Cancer

Chemotherapy is drug treatment used to destroy tumor cells or stop their growth.

In tonsil cancer, chemotherapy is usually applied:

Together with radiotherapy (chemo-radiotherapy),
To reduce the tumor before surgery (neoadjuvant),
To eliminate microscopic disease after surgery (adjuvant).

The drugs used are selected according to the biological characteristics of the tumor and the patient’s general health condition.

Prof. Dr. Ozan Seymen applies the most effective treatment strategies by working in coordination with the oncology team in his patients who need chemotherapy.

Post-Treatment Follow-up and Life

Regular follow-up is of great importance after tonsil cancer treatment is completed.

In the follow-up process:

Recurrence symptoms are detected early.
Late side effects that may develop after radiotherapy or surgery are monitored.
The patient’s quality of life is evaluated and supportive treatments are planned.

In the first two years, follow-up visits are made more frequently (usually every 3 months). As the healing process progresses, the frequency of controls can be reduced.

Prof. Dr. Ozan Seymen closely monitors his patients’ post-treatment processes, acting with the goal of maintaining long-term success and quality of life.

Can tonsil cancer heal in the early stage?

Yes, success rates are quite high in tonsil cancer detected at an early stage. Early diagnosis is life-saving.

Is HPV positive tonsil cancer better in prognosis?

Yes, HPV-related tonsil cancers respond better to treatment and have higher long-term survival rates.

Is tonsil cancer contagious?

No, tonsil cancer is not transmitted from person to person. However, HPV infection is contagious and can increase the risk of cancer.

Can cancer develop again after treatment?

There is a risk of recurrence, so regular follow-ups are important. However, the risk of recurrence can be reduced with early diagnosis and effective treatment.

Does tonsil cancer treatment affect speech or swallowing?

In advanced stages or after extensive surgery, there may be temporary or permanent effects on speech and swallowing functions. However, these risks are minimized with modern techniques.

Tonsil cancer is a disease with a very high success rate when diagnosed early and treated correctly. Paying attention to early signs and symptoms, avoiding risk factors, and having regular check-ups are the strongest weapons in the fight against this disease.

ENT Specialist Prof. Dr. Ozan Seymen, who serves in his own clinic in Istanbul, offers his patients the highest success rates with science-based approaches, multidisciplinary teamwork, and individualized patient management in the diagnosis and treatment of tonsil cancer.

If you suspect an unusual condition in the mouth and throat area or want to learn more about tonsil cancer, you can contact Prof. Dr. Ozan Seymen to create a detailed evaluation and personalized treatment plan.