Set against the scenic backdrop of Jinan—a city famed for its "springs in the city and mountains reflecting in the lake"—the 10th Annual Conference of Head and Neck Surgery was successfully held from April 9 to 12, 2026. The event was organized by the Chinese Medical Journals Publishing House Co., Ltd. (Chinese Medical Association Publishing House) and co-organized by the Shandong Second Provincial General Hospital (Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital) and Qilu Hospital of Shandong University. Academic support was provided by the Editorial Board of the Chinese Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of the Chinese Medical Association, the Editorial Board of World Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (English), and the Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of the Shandong Medical Association.

Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony was co-chaired by Professor Liu Shaoyan from the Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Professor Xu Wei from the Shandong Second Provincial General Hospital (Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital), and Professor Lei Dapeng from Qilu Hospital of Shandong University. Opening addresses were delivered by Xu Min, Deputy Director of the Health Commission of Shandong Province; Zhang Lin, Vice President of the Shandong Medical Association; Professor Huang Zhigang, Chairman of the Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of the Chinese Medical Association; and Wei Junmin, President of the Chinese Medical Association Publishing House. The speakers extended a warm welcome to all participating experts and colleagues, reviewed key milestones in head and neck surgery, and emphasized that the conference aims to foster academic exchange, share cutting-edge research, and jointly advance the quality of diagnosis and treatment in head and neck surgery. They also expressed their best wishes for a successful meeting.

Thematic reporting sessions

During the thematic reporting sessions, authoritative experts and scholars from across the nation gathered to discuss the latest trends, innovative techniques, and advanced philosophies in head and neck surgery. The first invited session was chaired by Professor Tang Pingzhang (Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences), Professor Zhou Liang (Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University), and Professor Wang Baoshan (The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University). Professor Huang Zhigang from Beijing Tongren Hospital presented on strengthening quality control systems; Professor Wen Weiping from the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University shared insights on the concepts and practices of nasopharyngeal carcinoma surgery; Professor Ni Xin from Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University presented a cohort study on the five-year survival rates and healthcare accessibility for pediatric cancer in China; and Professor Hu Guohua from the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University discussed neoadjuvant immunotherapy for resectable hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

The second invited session was chaired by Professor Qiu Yuanzheng (Xiangya Hospital, Central South University), Professor Lin Peng (Tianjin First Central Hospital), and Professor Song Xicheng (Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital). Professor Pan Xinliang from Qilu Hospital of Shandong University reported on optimizing surgical approaches and reconstruction strategies; Professor Li Xiaoming from the Chinese People's Liberation Army Bethune International Peace Hospital discussed challenges in surgical treatment for advanced thyroid cancer; Professor Liu Shaoyan addressed new progress in the precision diagnosis and treatment of medullary thyroid cancer; Professor Fang Jugao from Beijing Tongren Hospital interpreted the international expert consensus on the comprehensive treatment of laryngeal cancer; Professor Xu Wei analyzed the efficacy of neoadjuvant immunotherapy for hypopharyngeal cancer; and Professor Lei Dapeng shared a 20-year single-center retrospective clinical analysis of laryngeal cancer.

Lectures and Roundtable Discussions

In the lecture and roundtable discussion segment, a panel of esteemed experts including Professor Liu Shaoyan, Professor Xu Wei, Professor Huang Xiaoming (Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University), Professor Chen Xiaohong (Beijing Tongren Hospital), Professor Liu Mingbo (PLA General Hospital), Professor Song Ming (Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center), Professor Tao Lei (Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University), and Professor Zhang Xinxin (First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital). Professor Lyu Zhenghua from the Shandong Second Provincial General Hospital (Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital) presented on immunotherapy explorations for resectable locally advanced head and neck tumors. The experts engaged in an in-depth analysis based on the "2026 Head and Neck Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment Hotspot Survey" completed by attendees. Furthermore, Professor Xu Wei reported on exoscopic small-incision thyroid surgery in a session chaired by Professor Liu Shaoyan, while Professor Pan Xinliang presented on functional protection during endoscopic thyroid surgery, chaired by Professor Zhang Qiuhang from Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University.

The conference received a total of 1,001 abstracts from 30 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, alongside 66 surgical video submissions from young and middle-aged surgeons. The comprehensive program featured 10 special invited reports, 30 thematic reports, 7 roundtables, 13 anatomical and surgical video demonstrations, 43 video presentations, 205 oral presentations, 316 posters, and 6 lectures. Approximately 550 head and neck surgery experts from 29 provinces gathered to showcase the latest dynamics and advancements in the field through these diverse interactive formats.

Forging ahead with collective momentum, the 10th Annual Conference of Head and Neck Surgery 2026 concluded amidst high-level academic discourse and fruitful collaboration. This annual meeting served not only as a grand review of China’s achievements in integrated treatment for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers, thyroid management, and the application of AI in medicine but also as a strategic blueprint for the future of the discipline. The three-day program brought together leading experts and clinical mainstays to focus on core challenges in head and neck surgery. Through the collision of ideas and the synthesis of clinical practices, participants gained cutting-edge knowledge, valuable inspiration, and significant opportunities for future cooperation.

The successful convening of this conference highlights the high-quality development of head and neck surgery in China and provides a vital platform for nurturing young talent and advancing therapeutic technologies. The conclusion of this meeting marks not an end, but the beginning of a new journey. Looking forward, let us move forward in unison to drive the field toward new heights, fulfilling our mission and writing a new chapter for the era.