Why we have referred you to this clinic

We have referred you to the Head and Neck Lump Clinic so that we can investigate the causes of your symptoms and, if necessary, treat you as quickly as possible.

The Head and Neck Lump Clinic offers you clinical consultation and diagnostic tests in one visit, whenever possible.

The clinic comprises doctors, specialist nurses and radiographers. A clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is present to support patients who receive a new diagnosis of cancer.

The clinic takes place in the Kingston Hospital ENT Department (Aspen Building).

What to expect at the clinic

At the clinic you can expect the following.

  • You will see an ENT consultant or specialist registrar. You may also see a radiologist or endocrinologist (who specialises in hormone related conditions).
  • We will give you a clinical consultation and examination. We may also recommend some tests.
  • Some tests may take place in other parts of the hospital.
  • We will try and get all of your investigations done on the same day. Sometimes we may ask you to return on a different day for further investigations.
  • We will explain all tests and results to you on the day. We will discuss any recommendations for treatment or further testing with you.
  • If you are booked for a surgical examination or procedure, we may ask you to visit the pre-operative assessment service at Kingston Hospital. This assessment is designed to ensure that you are medically fit for the surgical procedure and that you understand what the surgery may involve. A nurse will take a medical and anaesthetic history and check which medications you are on (if any).
  • You may have to spend up to 4 hours at the clinic. The time you spend with us will depend on the tests and care we give each patient on the day.

Important

We advise you to bring someone responsible with you when you attend your appointment.

They will be able to support you if you feel unwell after any of your clinical tests.

Tests we offer at the clinic

We offer the following imaging and diagnostic tests at the clinic. Some tests are carried out to exclude the possibility of cancer, and these can include images of other parts of the body.

Ultrasound scan

A painless test that uses sound waves to create images of organs and structures inside your body.

We will give you information about appointment times and how to get to the radiology department where these scans take place.

Biopsy

Small samples of tissue are taken from a lump to be examined under a microscope. We do this when there is a suspicion of cancer.

Some biopsies are carried out on the day; others require you to stay in hospital for a day or overnight. If this is necessary, we will discuss this fully with you.

Blood tests

We may need to take some additional blood tests, depending on your symptoms and medical history.

Symptoms questionnaire

We may ask you to fill in a questionnaire about your symptoms.

Flexible nasoendoscopy

A telescopic examination of the throat. We pass a small flexible scope down through your nose and throat so that we can have a close look. We can offer numbing spray before the procedure.

Urine test

If we need you to take a urine test, the clinic nurses will let you know.

While you are waiting at the clinic, we suggest you do not pass urine without asking the nurses if they need a sample first.

X rays

We use X rays to diagnose problems and sometimes request a chest X ray for overall completeness. If we need X rays we will let you know how to get to the radiology department where these scans are carried out.

CT scan

A special kind of X ray machine which sends rays through your body from different angles. This enables doctors to view images of the internal structures of your body.

We may ask you to come back for a CT on a different day. We will discuss this fully with you.

MRI scan

A type of magnet scanner which creates images for the doctors so that they can see details of your internal bodily structure. The MRI is painless, but some patients find it noisy.

We may ask you to come back for an MRI on a different day. We will discuss this fully with you.

Contact information

Kingston Hospital ENT Patient Pathway Coordinator. Email: khn-tr.ent@nhs.net
 

Head and Neck Clinic Clinical Nurse Specialist

Telephone:

Kingston Hospital ENT Patient Pathway Coordinator: 020 8934 6406
 

Head and Neck Clinic Clinical Nurse Specialist: 07850 920314