Head and Neck Surgery
West Houston ENT and Sleep Center
Your Head and Neck Specialist
At West Houston ENT and Sleep Center, our practice includes surgical and non-surgical treatment for conditions involving the entire head and neck region including trauma, tumors, infections, congenital abnormalities, cleft palate, sleep apnea, deafness, and the aging process.
With more than 10 years practical experience conducting head and neck surgeries at Ben Taub Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, and West Houston ENT and Sleep Center, Dr. Ludwick understands that masses involving the head and neck region warrant a thorough evaluation. From benign enlarged lymph nodes to metastatic head and neck cancer, a thorough evaluation provides a timely and accurate diagnosis and leads to an appropriate customized treatment plan.
From excisions of small, benign masses to formal neck dissections for metastatic cancer, Dr. Ludwick is highly-skilled and effective at treating the following conditions:
Neck Masses
New onset of a neck mass should raise concern and prompt you to seek an immediate evaluation. The range of diagnoses for neck masses is extensive, including benign, reactive lymph nodes to metastatic cancer.
Dr. Ludwick is very experienced in the diagnosis and surgical management of head and neck masses. He will ensure you receive an accurate diagnosis that you understand fully, along with positive surgical results.
Head and Neck Cancer
Dr. Ludwick has over 10 years experience diagnosing and treating cancer and understands how this diagnosis can affect the patient and family. He takes the time to provide the compassionate support needed during this difficult time. Head and neck cancer treatment usually requires multiple modalities including chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy.
Skin Cancer
The head and neck are the most frequent sites of skin cancer due to their high exposure to the sun. Basal cell carcinoma, Squamous cell carcinoma, and Melanoma are the most frequent types of skin cancer. The most common sites include:
- Nasal tip and dorsum
- Ear
- Lower lip
- Scalp
While the first priority is complete tumor removal, it is also of paramount importance to put the tissues back together in the most functional and cosmetically acceptable manner after excision. It is our priority to ensure we achieve this balance with our procedures.
Thyroid Tumors and Goiter
Successful surgical removal of the thyroid gland requires more than just getting the gland out. It requires preservation of important motor nerves to prevent hoarseness or need for tracheotomy as well as the adjacent parathyroid glands to prevent post-operative low calcium levels. Dr. Ludwick is a seasoned thyroid surgeon having performed hundreds of successfulthyroid surgeries and has treated:
- Large goiters
- Thyroid nodules
- Thyroid cancer
- Metastatic neck disease
Most patients recover quickly from the procedure and require only an overnight hospital stay.
Parathyroid Surgery
Dr. Ludwick is adept at the surgical management of parathyroid adenomas and four-gland hyperplasia. If you have persistently elevated blood calcium levels caused by an enlarged parathyroid gland, surgical removal of the gland will normalizes your calcium level. Kidney failure patients have chronically elevated calcium levels. Typically, this is managed with medications. A sub-total parathyroidectomy can restore calcium homeostasis when medications are no longer effective.
Salivary Gland Tumors
Tumors involving the major glands such as the parotid, submandibular, and the sublingual can present as a swelling in front of the ear, below the jaw line, or under the tongue, and may be benign of malignant. Dr. Ludwick is experienced in the management of these tumors including their removal and necessary post-operative treatments.
