Episode # 293 • 22 Sept 2026
Innovations in Pediatric Head & Neck Oncology Care
Treating pediatric head and neck cancer means thinking far beyond the initial diagnosis to ensure healthy growth, function, and future quality of life. For Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, BackTable ENT & Allergy spotlights the unique challenges and innovations in caring for children with head and neck cancer. Host Dr. Gopi Shah is joined by Dr. Anthony Sheyn, leader of the head and neck cancer program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Dr. Sara Helmig, pediatric oncologist at St. Jude, to discuss how multidisciplinary teams, advanced diagnostics, and family-centered care are reshaping outcomes for young patients.
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction
03:39 - Building a Multidisciplinary Program
06:54 - Patient Workup and Tumor Board Workflow
10:36 - Unique Considerations in Pediatric Head and Neck Cancer
13:31 - Recent Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment
16:42 - Balancing Margins, Function, and Protocols
19:56 - Managing Treatment Side Effects
23:35 - Endocrine and Craniofacial Development
27:30 - Fertility, Second Cancers, and Survivorship
32:45 - Looking Ahead: Program Innovations
36:23 - Closing Remarks
Resources
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More about this episode
The episode explores how pediatric head and neck cancers differ from adult disease, including the critical role of molecular and genomic profiling, targeted therapies, proton radiation, and 3D surgical planning. Drs. Sheyn and Helmig describe the development of a comprehensive care program involving ENT, oncology, endocrinology, genetics, nutrition, dental, speech, and psychology specialists. They discuss strategies for balancing surgical margins with preservation of function, monitoring for treatment toxicity, and supporting endocrine and craniofacial development. Additional topics include fertility preservation, survivorship clinic models, long-term monitoring for secondary malignancies, and the use of AI to streamline tumor board workflows. The episode closes with a look at the future of pediatric head and neck oncology, including efforts to standardize protocols and enhance multidisciplinary collaboration.
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