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Expert Cancer Care

Head & Neck Cancer Surgery in Delhi NCR

Specialized surgical care for Oral, Tongue, Thyroid, Throat, Voice Box, Salivary Gland, and Head & Neck Cancers with advanced treatment and personalized care.

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Oral Cavity Cancer Surgery (Mouth Cancer) in Delhi NCR

Oral cavity cancer, commonly called mouth cancer, can affect the tongue, cheeks, gums, floor of the mouth, palate, or lips, and surgery is the primary treatment for most patients. Dr. Karan Gupta, a fellowship-trained Head & Neck Oncosurgeon, plans and performs oral cavity cancer surgery in Delhi NCR, from smaller excisions for early disease to more extensive procedures such as composite resection and neck dissection when the cancer is more advanced, with reconstruction planned to preserve speech, swallowing, and appearance wherever possible.

What Is Oral Cavity Cancer?

Oral cavity cancer, also known as mouth cancer, develops in the parts of the mouth involved in chewing, swallowing, and speaking. It can arise in the front two-thirds of the tongue, inner cheeks (buccal mucosa), gums, floor of the mouth, hard palate, retromolar trigone behind the wisdom teeth, or the lips. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of oral cavity cancer. In India, the leading risk factors include smoking, smokeless tobacco products such as gutka, khaini, and tobacco-containing paan, areca (betel) nut chewing, and regular alcohol consumption, especially when combined with tobacco use. Oral cavity cancer is one of the most common forms of head and neck cancer, and treatment often involves tumour removal, neck management, and reconstructive surgery to restore function and appearance.

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Oral Cavity Cancer Surgery (Mouth Cancer) - Dr. Karan Gupta

Symptoms and When to Get Checked

Persistent changes inside the mouth that last beyond two to three weeks should be evaluated by a Head & Neck Cancer Specialist rather than assumed to be a minor ulcer or dental problem. Early diagnosis significantly improves treatment outcomes.

Non-Healing Mouth Ulcer

A mouth ulcer or sore that has not healed within two to three weeks should always be examined by a specialist.

Red or White Patch

A persistent red or white patch inside the mouth that does not disappear requires prompt medical evaluation.

Persistent Mouth Pain

Ongoing pain in the tongue, inner cheek, or gums should not be ignored, especially if it continues for several weeks.

Lump Inside the Mouth

A lump, swelling, or thickened area inside the mouth or cheek should be assessed without delay.

Loose Teeth

Teeth becoming loose without an obvious dental reason may indicate involvement of the jaw or surrounding tissues.

Difficulty Opening the Mouth

Difficulty opening the mouth fully (trismus) can be an important warning sign of oral cavity cancer.

Unexplained Mouth Bleeding

Bleeding from the mouth without injury or an obvious dental cause should be investigated promptly.

Lump in the Neck

A painless or persistent lump in the neck may indicate spread to the lymph nodes and requires urgent evaluation.

How Oral Cavity Cancer Is Diagnosed, Staged & Treated

Oral cavity cancer treatment begins with an accurate diagnosis and staging to determine the size, depth, and spread of the tumour. Based on these findings, Dr. Karan Gupta develops a personalized surgical plan to achieve complete cancer removal while preserving speech, swallowing, and appearance whenever possible.

Diagnosis and Staging

Diagnosis begins with a detailed clinical examination and biopsy of the suspicious lesion. MRI or CT scans help determine the extent of the tumour, while PET-CT may be recommended for advanced disease. Staging considers not only the size of the tumour but also its depth of invasion, which influences the risk of spread to the neck lymph nodes and helps guide treatment planning.

Wide Local Excision

Recommended for smaller, early-stage oral cavity cancers. The tumour is removed along with a margin of healthy surrounding tissue to reduce the risk of recurrence while preserving as much normal tissue as possible.

Partial or Total Glossectomy

For tongue cancers, surgery may involve removing part of the tongue (partial glossectomy) or, in more extensive cases, a larger portion of the tongue depending on the tumour's size, location, and depth.

Composite Resection

Performed when the cancer involves or lies close to the jawbone. This procedure removes the tumour, the affected portion of the jawbone, and the involved neck lymph nodes in one operation, followed by reconstructive surgery when required.

Neck Dissection

Neck dissection is performed when cancer has spread to, or carries a significant risk of spreading to, the neck lymph nodes. It is commonly carried out during the same operation as removal of the primary tumour.

Reconstruction Surgery

Larger surgical defects are reconstructed using local, regional, or microvascular free flaps. Reconstruction is planned during the same surgery to restore speech, swallowing, facial appearance, and overall quality of life as effectively as possible.

Before Your Surgery: What to Expect

Careful preoperative planning helps determine the exact extent of your oral cavity cancer and ensures that surgery, reconstruction, and recovery are planned in the safest and most effective way.

Consultation, clinical examination, and review of biopsy results
MRI, CT, or PET-CT (when indicated) to assess the size, depth, and extent of the tumour
Dental evaluation, particularly when jaw involvement is suspected
Pre-anaesthesia fitness assessment, including routine blood tests
Detailed discussion of the planned surgery, reconstruction (if needed), and expected recovery

Recovery After Oral Cavity Cancer Surgery

Recovery after oral cavity cancer surgery depends on the extent of the procedure performed. Patients undergoing a smaller excision may return home sooner, while those requiring composite resection and reconstructive surgery generally need a longer hospital stay, closer monitoring, and a structured rehabilitation plan.

A feeding tube may be used temporarily after larger resections to allow the surgical site to heal safely.
Speech and swallowing rehabilitation play an important role in recovery, particularly after tongue or floor-of-mouth surgery.
Wound care and, where reconstruction has been performed, flap monitoring are carried out closely during the early postoperative period.
Dental rehabilitation, including denture planning or further dental treatment, may be required if the jawbone was involved in surgery.
Based on the final pathology report, additional treatment such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy may be recommended to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Why Choose Dr. Karan Gupta for Oral Cavity Cancer Surgery in Delhi NCR

Dr. Karan Gupta provides comprehensive surgical care for oral cavity (mouth) cancer, combining advanced head & neck oncology training with personalized treatment planning to achieve complete cancer removal while preserving speech, swallowing, and appearance whenever possible.

Fellowship-Trained Head & Neck Oncosurgeon

Fellowship-trained in Head & Neck Surgical Oncology at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, and HCG Cancer Centre, Ahmedabad.

Advanced Robotic Surgery Training

Further trained in Robotic Head & Neck Surgery through the Vattikuti Foundation, Michigan, USA, with expertise in advanced minimally invasive surgical techniques.

Certified Robotic Head & Neck Surgeon

Intuitive Surgical USA Certified Robotic Head & Neck Surgeon with internationally recognized robotic surgery certification.

Triple Gold Medalist

Honoured with Triple Gold Medals across MBBS, MS, and DNB for outstanding academic and surgical excellence.

Personalized Oral Cancer Surgery & Reconstruction

Every oral cavity cancer surgery is individually planned based on the tumour's site, size, depth, and stage. Treatment may range from wide local excision to glossectomy, composite resection, neck dissection, and reconstructive surgery, ensuring a comprehensive, patient-specific treatment strategy rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about oral cavity (mouth) cancer, oral cancer surgery, neck dissection, reconstruction, recovery, and treatment by Dr. Karan Gupta.

Oral cavity cancer can arise in several areas, including the front two-thirds of the tongue, the inner cheeks (buccal mucosa), the gums, the floor of the mouth, the hard palate, the retromolar trigone (behind the wisdom teeth), and the lips. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type, and the tumour location influences both the surgical approach and the likelihood of spread to the neck lymph nodes.

For most patients with oral cavity cancer, surgery is the primary treatment. Additional treatment such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy may be recommended after surgery depending on the final pathology report, including surgical margins, depth of invasion, and whether cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.

This depends on the characteristics of your tumour. The depth of tumour invasion, tumour size, and other staging factors determine the likelihood of cancer spreading to the neck lymph nodes. Based on these findings, your surgeon will advise whether a neck dissection should be performed during the same operation.

If imaging confirms that the cancer has invaded the jawbone (mandible), a composite resection is usually required. This involves removing the tumour, the affected portion of the jawbone, and the neck lymph nodes, followed by reconstruction. If the tumour is close to the jaw without actual bone invasion, a more conservative jaw-preserving procedure may be possible.

The effect on speech and swallowing depends on the size and location of the tumour and the amount of tissue that must be removed. Smaller surgeries usually have minimal long-term impact, while larger tongue or floor-of-mouth resections require more rehabilitation. Reconstruction and speech and swallowing therapy are planned to restore function as much as possible.

The major risk factors include smoking, smokeless tobacco products such as gutka, khaini, and tobacco-containing paan, areca (betel) nut chewing, and regular alcohol consumption, especially when combined with tobacco. Anyone with these risk factors who develops a persistent mouth ulcer, red or white patch, unexplained mouth pain, or a lump should seek prompt evaluation by a Head & Neck Cancer Specialist.
Oral Cavity Cancer Surgery (Mouth Cancer) - Dr. Karan Gupta