Treatment of Tongue Tumors in Israel — Innovative Methods of Diagnosis and Therapy

A precise diagnosis is of immense importance for the success of treatment. According to statistics, identifying and providing adequate treatment at an early stage of oncopathology allows for a cure in more than 75-80% of cases. Timely diagnosis is complicated by the fact that, as a rule, painful symptoms do not manifest in the early stages, and the patient seeks medical help quite late. The most effective treatment methods are selected using molecular genetic tests and the Personalized Oncological Benefit Data-Analysis System computer program. The cost of therapy in Israeli clinics is accessible to medical tourists and significantly lower than in Europe and the USA.

Current Treatment Methods for the Disease

The choice of treatment methods depends on the stage of the oncological disease, the size of the neoplasm, its molecular characteristics, the extent of the malignant process, and the patient's condition. The therapeutic program includes various types of methods.

Surgical Treatment

It is the primary and most effective method of treatment, regardless of the causes that contributed to the development of the oncological disease and at what stage it was diagnosed. In Israeli clinics, access to the pathological focus is achieved transorally, without the need for incisions. In the early stages, with small tumor sizes, organ-preserving minimally invasive techniques are used, allowing for the avoidance of serious postoperative complications and characterized by a short recovery period. Removal of tongue tumors in such cases is performed using the following methods:

• Laser therapy — the tumor is excised using a laser beam, the action of which causes the destruction of malignant cells. The absence of bleeding during the procedure is ensured by the coagulation of blood vessels under high temperatures.
• HIFU therapy — high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation is an innovative method of anti-tumor therapy based on the occurrence of irreversible damage to pathological cells under the influence of high-frequency ultrasound waves. Ultrasound causes rapid heating and necrosis of cancer cells. The procedure is performed under MRI control.
• Cryodestruction — a minimally invasive technique that allows for the avoidance of full surgical intervention. The essence of the procedure lies in the destruction of malignant cells through freezing under the influence of ultra-low temperatures, achieved by treating the tumor with liquid nitrogen or argon.
• Thermocoagulation — a procedure during which the pathological focus is destroyed under the influence of high-frequency electric current supplied to the neoplasm using special electrodes.

In late stages, specialists have to resort to the removal of the affected fragment of the tongue or the entire organ (partial or complete glossectomy). When a large tumor is detected, especially at the base of the tongue, glossectomy is performed in conjunction with the removal of cervical lymph nodes. When a significant fragment or the entire volume of the tongue is removed, a reconstructive operation is performed to restore swallowing and speech functions. In this case, the surgeon uses skin flaps and soft tissues from the patient. Numerous reviews from patients who have undergone treatment confirm the high quality of plastic surgeries and the subsequent rehabilitation program.

Radiotherapy

At stage 1 of the disease, when small tumors are detected, radiotherapy can serve as an independent treatment method. As a rule, radiation is used in conjunction with surgical intervention and chemotherapy. Preoperative radiotherapy aims to reduce the size of the neoplasm and facilitate its subsequent surgical removal. Postoperative (adjuvant) radiotherapy is prescribed to destroy malignant cells that remain after surgical removal of the tumor and to prevent recurrence. Radiotherapy is conducted using the following technologies:

• Brachytherapy (contact radiotherapy) — used to eliminate small tumors at early stages of development. The procedure involves the introduction of a source of radioactive radiation directly into the tumor tissues. The internal irradiation of the pathological focus with high doses does not cause damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
• External beam radiotherapy — performed on modern equipment that ensures the accuracy of irradiation of the pathological focus and minimal negative impact on healthy tissues. Technologies such as IMRT and IGRT are used, allowing for the modulation of radiation intensity and changing the direction of beams during the procedure, depending on the patient's body position. It is used in late stages of tongue oncological diseases.

Chemotherapy

Most often used in late stages, when large tumors and distant metastatic foci, usually found in lymph nodes, are detected. In such situations, chemotherapy is prescribed as palliative treatment, resulting in the slowing of disease progression and alleviation of painful symptoms. A chemotherapy course may also be prescribed in conjunction with radiotherapy as an alternative to surgical treatment (chemoradiotherapy).

In combination with surgical intervention and radiation, polychemotherapy is conducted using several chemotherapeutic agents. Undergoing a chemotherapy course before surgery helps to reduce the size of the tumor. After surgical removal, chemotherapy is prescribed to destroy any remaining malignant cells in the patient's body and to prevent recurrence.

Modern Methods of Disease Diagnosis

A precise comprehensive diagnosis is conducted to confirm the diagnosis given to the patient in their home country, determine the size, location, and stage of the neoplasm, and check for distant metastases. A thorough diagnostic examination takes, on average, three days in Israeli clinics.

How Much Does Treatment Cost

Advantages of Treatment in Israel

• High level of qualification and many years of experience of doctors.
• Rapid diagnosis using high-tech equipment.
• Application of innovative treatment methods and drugs.
• Selection of the most effective methods for the patient using molecular diagnostics.
• Affordable prices.

Tongue cancer, like other oncological diseases, requires comprehensive therapy at an early stage. Therefore, do not waste time, choose a clinic, and undergo treatment in a country that ranks among the top in the world in the fight against oncology.