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A closer look at the hospital
More than 12,000 annual operations, with intermediate- and advanced-stage malignancies accounting for 35%, were reported for Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital’s oral, maxillofacial and head-and-neck tumor department in 2025. The count covers all departmental operations. For oral cancer patients, its distinctive strength is coordinating radical removal with immediate microsurgical repair, planning for eating, speech and facial form.
In ocular oncology, a six-center randomized trial led by Xianqun Fan’s team reported two-year progression-free eye preservation of 53% with intra-arterial chemotherapy versus 27% with intravenous chemotherapy in selected children with unilateral advanced retinoblastoma. Published in 2023, the result directly addresses families’ hopes of keeping the affected eye without tumor progression.
Oral and maxillofacial surgery, reconstructive surgery and ocular oncology connect cancer treatment with repair of tissue defects. Complex oral cancer surgery can include microsurgical reconstruction during the same operation, allowing recovery goals to be discussed before major jaw or soft-tissue removal.
The eye trial enrolled newly diagnosed unilateral group D or E retinoblastoma without clinical high-risk factors. Overall survival did not differ significantly between groups. Keeping an eye does not imply full visual recovery; life, eye preservation and visual potential remain distinct treatment goals.
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Clinical strengths
Oral and maxillofacial tumours
Oral, maxillofacial and head and neck oncology is a major strength at Ninth Hospital. Tumours may involve the tongue, jaw, facial soft tissue or neck nodes, making pathological and anatomical assessment essential. The programme includes complex resection connected with tissue repair and functional reconstruction.
This expertise affects everyday life after treatment: eating, oral care, speech and facial appearance. Considering tumour control and reconstruction in the same preoperative plan helps patients understand the full course of treatment.
Immediate reconstruction: planning for life after tumor removal
Ninth Hospital’s 2025 clinical reporting describes complex oral cancer resection with immediate microsurgical repair. Removing parts of the mouth floor, tongue or jaw can affect swallowing, speech and facial contour. Surgical planning therefore brings tumor removal and tissue transfer together.
Reconstruction addresses oral closure, eating and rehabilitation as well as appearance. Disease extent, previous radiotherapy and donor tissue help determine flap selection, bone reconstruction and recovery planning.
Review after previous treatment
For recurrent disease or a previously irradiated area, tissue condition, infection and prior surgery affect the options. Operation reports and radiotherapy plans help assess further resection, reconstruction and the need for other specialties.
Orbital and ocular oncology in adults and children
Ophthalmology at Ninth Hospital has a distinctive focus on orbital disease, eye tumors and oculoplastic surgery. Specialists including Xianqun Fan and Renbing Jia work on orbital tumors and childhood retinoblastoma, with attention to cancer control, preservation of the eye and visual function, and reconstruction.
Intraocular, orbital and eyelid tumors require different approaches. Specialist assessment connects imaging, diagnosis, treatment and reconstruction; childhood cases also require attention to development.
Reconstructive surgery and complex neurofibromas
Plastic and reconstructive surgery is a defining specialty at Ninth Hospital. Qingfeng Li’s team works across microsurgical repair, craniofacial and organ reconstruction, allowing functional and structural restoration to be considered before removal of a complex lesion.
The service also treats neurofibromatosis. A 2025 hospital report describes work by Li, Zhichao Wang and colleagues on complex plexiform neurofibromas, where disease biology, nerves, vessels and reconstruction all shape planning.
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Specialists & clinical teams
Zhiyuan Zhang and the oral cancer team
Surgery and multidisciplinary care for oral cancer
Zhang’s team conducted a 256-patient phase III trial in resectable, locally advanced oral squamous-cell cancer. Adding routine preoperative TPF chemotherapy did not improve overall survival, helping clarify when additional treatment is worthwhile. The team’s clinical scope combines tumor removal with maxillofacial reconstruction and recovery of eating and speech.
View supporting sourceXianqun Fan, Renbing Jia and the ocular oncology team
Eye-preserving treatment for childhood retinoblastoma
The team published a randomized trial in 143 children comparing ophthalmic-artery and intravenous chemotherapy for advanced unilateral retinoblastoma in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. This experience is relevant when a family faces possible eye removal: survival comes first, followed by assessment of eye and visual preservation. Preserving the eye does not necessarily preserve sight.
View supporting sourceZhichao Wang and Qingfeng Li
Plexiform neurofibromas associated with NF1
Wang and Li conducted a Chinese phase I study of selumetinib in adults and children with inoperable NF1-associated plexiform neurofibromas, published in Clinical and Translational Medicine in 2024. These tumors are usually benign but may cause pain, disfigurement and functional limitations. Their combined surgical and drug-treatment perspective is relevant when further resection would be difficult.
View supporting sourceStudy results describe selected patient groups, not an individual doctor’s success rate. Availability, case acceptance and the treating team require hospital confirmation.
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Your international care journey
Specify the exact tumour site, mouth opening, current diet and any tracheostomy. Confirm the campus and maxillofacial clinic before travel. If reconstruction is being considered, allow for follow-up and wound care in the proposed itinerary.
Share your records and questions
Send the diagnosis, pathology, imaging and treatment history. Explain whether you want a second opinion, information about a treatment or an in-person visit. We help organise the records and identify missing information.
Confirm the specialty and acceptance
The relevant service confirms whether it can accept the case and whether pathology review or more records are needed. The hospital determines whether remote assessment or a multidisciplinary opinion is appropriate.
Agree appointments, costs and travel
Confirm the campus, first appointment, proposed assessment and payment requirements before arranging visas, accommodation, transport and interpreting. Discuss caregivers and length of stay when repeated treatment is expected.
Attend assessment and discuss the plan
The clinicians assess the case, arrange necessary tests and explain suitable options, expected benefits and risks. Discuss costs and logistics alongside the clinical plan before deciding on the next step.
Stay informed during treatment
Agreed support can include appointments, interpreting and communication during care. Keep track of questions and clinical feedback, and review schedules, costs and family arrangements if the treatment plan changes.
Return home with a follow-up plan
Before departure, collect the discharge summary, pathology and imaging, medicines and follow-up plan. Clarify pending reports and contact arrangements, with support for communication between local and treating clinicians where agreed.
What to prepare for the first enquiry
For oral and maxillofacial disease, include pathology, facial and neck imaging, dental information and prior reconstruction records. Eye cases need ophthalmic examinations, orbital imaging and visual changes; neurofibroma cases need imaging and operative records. Add prior radiotherapy plans and describe functional priorities.
Diagnosis & pathology
Diagnosis summary, complete pathology, immunohistochemistry, available molecular tests and where tissue is held.
Original imaging
Recent and pretreatment imaging studies with reports and dates, so changes can be compared.
Treatment timeline
Operations, radiotherapy plans, each drug regimen, responses and major side effects; current medicines and allergies.
Your practical needs
Home country, preferred language, possible travel dates, caregiver needs and the questions you want answered.
Start with the records you already have. We can help identify gaps; do not arrange additional tests solely to make an enquiry.
See the full records checklistPractical details to settle before travel
Costs & payment
Ask what the hospital estimate includes, deposits, additional charges and refund arrangements. Plan travel and living costs separately. Insurance coverage and direct billing require confirmation.
Language & records
Confirm interpreting for appointments, communication during treatment and the language of records. Our China coordination includes Chinese and English support; other languages need advance confirmation of availability and arrangements.
Campus, accommodation & caregivers
Consultations, tests and admission may take place at different sites. Distance, accessibility, caregiver rules and follow-up frequency all affect the itinerary and should be considered once the clinical plan is clearer.
Length of stay & returning home
Assessment, surgery, radiotherapy and cellular treatment have different schedules. Ask the hospital for the expected course, allowing for results and changes in the plan. Confirm readiness to return home with the clinical team.
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How Chirona can help
From organising records and contacting an appropriate specialty to travel in China and follow-up at home, we help connect the practical steps. Tell us the diagnosis, treatment so far and the question you most want answered.
Make your history easier to review
Organise treatments and key reports, help with necessary translation and bring the important questions to the clinician.
Find the appropriate clinical service
Enquire with the relevant specialty, follow up on record requirements and help clarify acceptance and appointments.
Coordinate the practical steps in China
Within the agreed scope, help with visa documentation, travel, arrival transport, accommodation and accompaniment.
Keep communication connected
Help organise consultation feedback, records for home and follow-up requirements, with continued contact as agreed.
The hospital and clinicians make diagnostic, treatment and acceptance decisions. Chirona provides consultation and care coordination within the agreed scope.
Explore our service process06
Questions before you decide
Can tumour removal and reconstruction be discussed together?
Make that request when seeking an appointment, with imaging, pathology and prior operation records. Explain the functions that matter most to you. The hospital can then decide whether joint assessment and further tests are needed.
Can I request one of the specialists featured here?
Tell us your preference and we can help enquire. The hospital confirms acceptance, the specialist’s involvement and who provides outpatient or inpatient care. It may also recommend another suitable clinician within the specialty.
Can I contact Chirona before choosing a hospital?
Yes. Share the diagnosis, treatment history and the decision you need help with. We can organise the questions to consider when comparing hospitals and explain the coordination available.
Does submitting records confirm treatment?
Submitting records starts the assessment. The hospital must confirm acceptance and clinical suitability and may require more information or in-person tests. Appointment confirmation, the treatment plan and costs should be clarified separately.
Sources & further reading
Profiles draw on the institutional sources below, including historical material where it explains a programme’s development. Appointments, services and research recruitment can change and need confirmation when enquiring.
- SJTU dental school: over 12,000 departmental operations and immediate reconstruction (2025)
- National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases
- Institution & specialty information · shsmu.edu.cn
- Plastic and reconstructive surgery
- Ocular oncology expertise
- Ninth Hospital clinical specialists
- Neurofibroma clinical work (2025)
- Six-center randomized trial: two-year progression-free eye preservation in retinoblastoma (2023)
- Zhiyuan Zhang and the oral cancer team
- Xianqun Fan, Renbing Jia and the ocular oncology team
- Zhichao Wang and Qingfeng Li