Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali, through its dedicated oncology arm, Max Institute of Cancer Care, successfully hosted the Excellence in Head & Neck Oncology (EHNO) 2026 conference in New Delhi.

The event brought together more than 250 national and international experts in surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology and allied specialties to discuss the latest advances in the diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancers.

The two-day scientific meeting focused on emerging technologies, multidisciplinary treatment approaches and innovations aimed at improving outcomes for patients with head and neck malignancies.

The conference was held against the backdrop of India's growing burden of head and neck cancers. The country records more than two lakh new cases annually, with Uttar Pradesh accounting for an estimated 25-30% of the disease burden. 

Experts highlighted that cancers of the oral cavity, larynx and pharynx continue to rise, driven largely by tobacco use, alcohol consumption, HPV infection and delayed diagnosis. They stressed that increasing public awareness, promoting early detection and expanding access to multidisciplinary care remain critical to improving survival and quality of life.

Dr. Gaurav Aggarwal, Director – Hospital Operations and Chief Operating Officer, NCR Region 3, Max Healthcare, noted that EHNO 2026 provided a platform where global expertise, advanced surgical, medical and radiation oncology practices, including robotic cancer surgery, came together to strengthen head and neck oncology as a Centre of Excellence at Max Institute of Cancer Care, Vaishali.

Dr. Sowrabh Kumar Arora, Principal Director and Clinical Administrator – Surgical Oncology (Head & Neck), said that multidisciplinary collaboration enables clinicians to adopt advanced technologies and evidence-based practices while delivering more personalised and patient-centric care.

Dr. Vikas Goswami, Senior Director – Medical Oncology, highlighted the growing role of targeted therapies, immunotherapy and precision medicine alongside advanced surgical and radiation techniques. He said scientific forums such as EHNO 2026 accelerate knowledge exchange.

Dr. Manish Bhushan Pandey, Senior Director – Radiation Oncology, said advances in radiation oncology are enabling highly precise treatment that improves tumour control while minimising toxicity. He noted that the conference provided an important platform to discuss modern radiotherapy techniques and multidisciplinary decision-making.