8th European Congress on Head and Neck Oncology
Rome, Italy, 11-14 April 2018

 Report

The 8th European Congress on Head and Neck Oncology was held in Rome, Italy from 11 to 14 April 2018 with the President of the European Head and Neck Society (EHNS) C. René Leemans, The Netherlands, and the Congress Chairman Giuseppe Spriano. A record number of 745 attendees (registered participants, invited speakers and company representatives) from 59 countries around the world and coming from all 5 continents attended the conference.

The 8th ECHNO was co-organized by the Italian Head and Neck Society (AIOCC-IHNS) and the European Head and Neck Society (EHNS). A one-day pre-congress event was organized by the Italian Head and Neck Society (AIOCC-IHNS) on April 11 2018 focusing on quality assurance, innovation and tech revolution in H&N Oncology. The pre-congress was well attended and included a breakfast and a lunch symposium, a panel session
(“The new TNM: one year later”), a round table (“Quality Assurance in H&N Oncology”) and two lectures on “Innovation in H&N Oncology” and “Tech revolution in H&N Oncology”, respectively.
Leading clinicians from Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands, Switzerland and the US presented their experience and discussed key issues of the subjects with the audience.

The Honor Guest Lecture “Inflammation and Head and Neck tumors” was delivered by Professor Alberto Mantovani on Thursday 12 April. The very same day Professor Randall Scott Weber, USA gave the Presidential Lecture on the very interesting subject "Quality improvement in Head and Neck surgery: how to become a better surgeon?”.
The main scientific program of the Congress included five invited lectures by world leaders in their respective fields: Marco Carlo Merlano, Italy on “Immunotherapy”; Nishant Agrawal, USA on “Liquid biopsies in head and neck cancer”; Sara Pai, USA on “Strategies to address anti-PD1 resistance in HNSCC”; Satyesh Parmar, UK on “Rehabilitation based Bony Reconstruction”; Michela Meregaglia, Italy on “Value based health care in head and neck cancer”.

55 free papers were presented, and 117 E-poster were displayed throughout the Congress.

During the Congress, the EHNS Board Meeting and the EHNS Council Meeting took place, chaired by EHNS President C. René Leemans, The Netherlands and EHNS Secretary Wojciech Golusinski, Poland.
The General Assembly unanimously elected Wojciech Golusinski, Poland as President of EHNS, Sefik Hosal, Turkey as Secretary General, and Giovanni Succo, Italy as Treasurer. It was also decided that the 9th EHNS Congress will be held in Brussels, Belgium in 2020 under the chairmanship of Guy Andry.

Rome, the eternal city, with its numerous historical sites and its rich culture, was the perfect venue to host this Event. The social program was nothing else than outstanding.
The European Head and Neck Society (EHNS) and the Italian Head and Neck Society (AIOCC-IHNS),organized a stimulating scientific program, covering various aspects of head and neck oncology.

Prof. Giuseppe Spriano
ECHNO Chairman