The sixth Congress of Asian Society of Head and Neck Oncology (ASHNO) will kick off its four-day run at Lotte World Hotel, southern Seoul, from March 27-30.

ASHNO, launched in 2008, is Asia's most significant academic group to share medical knowledge on head and neck tumors. The conference shares experience and expertise to raise the level of medical care in Asian countries and nurture next-generation specialized medical staff.

About 500 medical professionals from 21 countries will participate in this year’s conference and share experience in treating head and neck cancers. Professor Choi Eun-Chang of Severance Hospital will chair the meeting this year

Head and neck tumors, including laryngeal cancer, parietal cancer, oral cancer, salivary gland cancer, sinus cancer, and thyroid cancer, are hard to treat as local invasions, and, even if treated, it can leave behind functional impairment as the surgery area serves complex functions such as talking, eating and drinking.

Recently, head and neck cancer in Asian countries has shown different biological behaviors and characteristics than Western countries. All this explains why there is a growing need for multi-department therapy involving related specialists such as otorhinolaryngology, radiation oncology and oncology, to treat cancer while preserving function, organizers said.

During the conference, experts from various fields also plan to share the latest surgical techniques and radiotherapy according to the types of head and neck cancer, while also sharing clinical experiences.

“This conference is a place to share cutting-edge medical knowledge and skills with Asian, as well as American and European scholars,” Korea Society of Head and Neck Oncology President Ahn Yong-chan said. “It is an opportunity to raise the international status of our society and to further research on the head and neck tumor field.”

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