Welcome to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology

Our Clinic and Outpatient Center under the guidance of Prof. Christian Betz, are among the leading European university institutions of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery. Aside from general ENT medicine, main emphasis is on the treatment of head and neck tumors, ear surgery, rhinology and skull base disorders. Experienced and internationally trained surgeons guarantee our patients the best possible outcome. As a result of interdisciplinary networking at the UKE, we are also contact partners for disorders bordering classic otolaryngology. We provide treatment for approximately 3,500 inpatients and 15,000 outpatients per year. Regular certification carried out by the German Cancer Society and the German Cancer Aid Award validate our competence in the field of head and neck oncology. Being one of the most innovative and cutting-edge University Medical Centers in Europe, the use of the latest innovative therapy procedures and medical technologies is our general goal. Intensive exchange with specialists of other departments and medical centers in Germany and abroad, including our participation in national and international seminars and studies, help us to have our fingers on the pulse of time. Thus, establishing studies and organizing training courses for specialists mainly in the field of head and neck oncology on a regular basis.

Our primary focus is on the following areas:

Therapy for head and neck tumors, salivary gland surgery, soft tissue surgery

We offer tumor therapy in cooperation with the University Cancer Center Hamburg (UCCH) located at the UKE – a comprehensive cancer center of excellent international reputation globally linked with other university medical centers of excellence. Cutting-edge cancer therapy in line with individual therapy approaches takes into consideration the specific circumstances of each individual patient including the individual tumor biology and molecular properties. Aside from oncological aspects, functional parameters are naturally the focal point of the treatment. Our team of specialists annually supports more than 600 patients throughout their entire therapy cycle. Thus, covering the entire spectrum of head and neck surgical oncology and reconstructive surgery including microvascular free tissue transfer from various extraction sites and, to be precise, within the context of the primary tumor therapy as well as a so-called “rescue surgery” due to metastases or after a unsuccessful radiation and / or chemotherapy. As one of the first German ENT medical facilities, we have also been offering robotic assisted head and neck surgery using the DaVinci Surgical System for many years thus providing, for certain indications, clear advantages for our patients.

Ear Surgery and University Cochlear Implant Center

Our ear surgery team covers the entire field of otology – from middle ear and lateral skull base surgery due to rare tumors to implanting active hearing aids including cochlear implants from all leading manufacturers. For this reason, we are proud of our cochlear implant rehabilitation therapy which plays an important role in regaining postoperative hearing.

Rhinology and Sinus Surgery

Our department also has extensive experience in the field of functional endoscopic sinus surgery as well as anterior skull base surgery. Here, in principal, we favor endoscopic access corridors and are equipped with state-of-the-art technology regarding imaging, navigation and powered instrumentation (sinus drillout, microdebrider). The major advantage of our preferred procedures is the minimization of invasion and, simultaneously, increased precision and risk minimization due to improved visualization of the pathological areas including surrounding structures.

Please direct your treatment request to the International Office of the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf.