ENT surgeon/specialist in BKK?

[legume06]

I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations for a good ENT surgeon or hospital in Bangkok. I currently live in China, but would prefer to have this surgery done at a hospital in BKK.

Specifically, I need to have a lymph node / tumor removed and biopsied. My doctor in China thinks I have a specific type of benign tumor in a gland in my neck/jaw area, but I'm also in my 20s and the specific condition that she said I might have is usually seen in men over age 50. So, a hospital that has good pathology is also important.

I know there's Bumrungrad (been there before for something minor, had good experience), but since I'll be paying out of pocket, I'd ideally prefer to find a good surgeon who works at a hospital that is less expensive than Bumrungrad. A JCI accredited hospital would be preferable, as would a private one, since I'd prefer to have this done soon and I've read about some public hospitals taking a while for procedures, etc. I've been considering Vejthani. Or maybe St. Louis, which I know isn't JCI accredited, but I have a friend who lives right next to it, so I'd consider. Basically, any personal recommendations or general thoughts about specific doctors are welcomed! Thanks.

[Sheryl]

You need not just an ENT but specifically a Head and neck Surgeon, which not all ENTs are.

I suggest one of these doctors:

1. Prof.Thongchai Luxameechanporn

http://www.phyathai2hospital.com/en/site/our_doctors/view/26

who is at Phyathai 2 Hospital which is near Victory Monument: It is a medium sized private hospital popular with middle class Thais, definitely less expensive than Bumrungrad.

He trained at Harvard in the US and is a Professor at a prominent medical school.

2. Assoc. Prof. Siripornchai Supanakorn at Saint Louis Hospital (only there Tuesdays and thursdays from 10 AM - noon). He is a Professor at a leading medical school and head of the Head and neck Surgery Unit there.

[legume06]

Thanks a lot, Sheryl. Very very helpful.

[PokerFace]

Dr. Passakorn at Bangkok Nursing Home is excellent.

[legume06]

Thanks for the information all.

Does anyone know a general estimate for the cost of a neck/jaw lymph node excisional biopsy? I know that costs differ based on many different factors, but it would be nice to have something to work with. So this includes people who have had to have a thyroid lymph node removed (not just a fine needle biopsy) and those who've had certain salivary glands removed (partoid gland under ear, etc).

I was quoted 150,000 baht which seems like way too much for such a relatively simple procedure. Any thoughts or advice?

[Sheryl]

It will really depend on what needs to be done. if it is just a fine needle aspiration biopsy then it would be much less than that but if they have to resect or remove a tumor it will be far more than 150K.

For lymph node excision and biopsy (as opposed to needle aspiration) 150K sounds quite reasonable. This is not such a simple procedure, surgery in the neck area never is.

[legume06]

It will really depend on what needs to be done. if it is just a fine needle aspiration biopsy then it would be much less than that but if they have to resect or remove a tumor it will be far more than 150K.

For lymph node excision and biopsy (as opposed to needle aspiration) 150K sounds quite reasonable. This is not such a simple procedure, surgery in the neck area never is.

Ok, thanks again Sheryl. Any thoughts about public hospitals or lower priced private ones that might be a good place to have this done? I'll be paying out of pocket, so price is important, although I won't risk standards for price alone. Bangkok Christian, Mission? If I have to pay 150,000 baht then I'll do so. I just want to shop around a bit.

[lopburi3]

I had Thyroid removed at Vejthani Hospital several years ago after inconclusive fine needle biopsy (one side was solid mass but not all types of cells were collected by fine needle). Cost for thyroid removal and biopsy of mass was 100k including stay/drugs/followup

[Sheryl]

It will really depend on what needs to be done. if it is just a fine needle aspiration biopsy then it would be much less than that but if they have to resect or remove a tumor it will be far more than 150K.

For lymph node excision and biopsy (as opposed to needle aspiration) 150K sounds quite reasonable. This is not such a simple procedure, surgery in the neck area never is.

Ok, thanks again Sheryl. Any thoughts about public hospitals or lower priced private ones that might be a good place to have this done? I'll be paying out of pocket, so price is important, although I won't risk standards for price alone. Bangkok Christian, Mission? If I have to pay 150,000 baht then I'll do so. I just want to shop around a bit.

If the quote you have is from St Louis, there is no less expensive private option. Medical care costs have increased significantly in Thailand in recent years. If from other than St Louis, try there. Bkk Christian and Mission are both more expensive than St L.

A govt hospital would be much less but long waits and red tape. Hard to arrange if you will be just visiting Thailand.

[Sheryl]

P.S. quotes you getgrom hospitals are given by admin/clerical staff and are just an estimate; they usually prefer to err on the high sife. In this instance since the exact nature of the surgery is so unclear they may have used the cost of a thyroidectomy as basis. Certainly from the amount they are assuming general anesthesia and at least 2 nights in hospital. Should it turn out to be something less extensive, cost will be less, but I don't think therr is anyway to know prior to consultation with the doctor.

It would help to know the actual diagnosis suspected. If it is a thyroid tumor I would advise seeing a thyroid specialist first rather than going straight to a surgeon.

[legume06]

Thanks lopburi3. Good to know.

Sheryl, the quote was from Phaythai. I haven't tried St. Louis yet. The exact diagnosis is still TBD, which is main reason I want to get node taken out. It isn't my thyroid - it's a lymph node associated with a salivary gland. After an MRI, radiologist in China said it could be adenolymphoma (benign) and suggested biopsy but surgeon said it was just a lymph node (without looking at my MRI results or any of my history). It is a lymph node, but it's abnormally enlarged and has been for nearly 2 months. A course of antibiotics didn't reduce the swelling and it's painless. To me, something is clearly wrong and it's slowly making my face swell, and I'm tired of dealing with Chinese public hospitals where a diagnosis seems elusive , so I think that a biopsy is best. At very least, I want cancer (lymphoma) ruled out, but only way to conclusively do that is to take the node out. Original doctor mentioned that a fine needle biopsy isn't good for this due to high chance of an inconclusive result. Needless to say, it's a cause of anxiety.

[Sheryl]

Removing lymph nodes is not without disadvantages. In addition, if there is a malignancy the primary tumor may be located elsewhere. Anyway, you certainly need consultation with a top notch head and neck surgeon.

If it is the parotid gland that is enlarged, blockage by a stone may be a possibility. We had a member with that some years back and as I recall he was unsuccessful in getting it diagnosed in Thailand and ultimately went to Singapore.

St Louis is usually a little less expensive than Phayathai.