Head and Neck Lumps and Lesions

This webinar with a specialist otolaryngologist from the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital is for GPs to improve their knowledge and skills in the assessment of neck lumps, oral lesions and throat discomfort. It will include an anatomy refresher to assist with your approach to assessment, tips for investigating and biopsy, and when to refer. 

A 60-minute, interactive, lecture style presentation for GPs and GP registrars. 

Ear, nose and throat surgeon Dr Anne Cass (Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital) will provide insights on how to assess and manage a range of neck lumps, oral lesions and throat discomfort, including (but not limited to): 

• a refresher of the relevant anatomy to assist diagnosis, 
• hints on history to raise red flags 
• examination advice to improve your assessment 
• tips for do-it-yourself fine needle aspiration and biopsies – easy to do in your GP rooms. 

There will be a discussion about assessment and management of oral lesions and ulceration, including: 

• conditions not to be missed such as pemphigus and pemphigoid and how to differentiate between them 
• systemic diseases and oral ulceration 
• managing common conditions like aphthous ulcers and lichen planus. 

Guidance will also be provided on assessing throat discomfort to differentiate from cancer and how to recognise a globus sensation from history and examination.  

Speaker 

Dr Anne Cass, Otolaryngologist 

Dr Anne Cass is an ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. Anne trained in otolaryngology/head and neck surgery in Melbourne with further subspecialty training in otoneurology. She has overseen the Head and Neck Clinic at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital since 2004. Anne is an examiner for the Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery Fellowship. Anne runs an ENT practice in Hamilton and Warrnambool and flies a light plane between Melbourne and the rural practice. 

Learning outcomes:

By the end of this session, you will be able to: 

• outline the GP approach to the assessment of neck lumps and oral lesions 
• list red flag features for serious conditions not to be missed 
• outline appropriate referral pathways.