Head and Neck Tumor Doctor in Dubai

Quick answer

Who treats head and neck tumors in Dubai, and when does a lump need a quick check?

Dr. Muhammad Jabbr is a Consultant ENT (ear, nose and throat) and Head and Neck Surgeon. He checks head and neck tumors (lumps or growths) and removes them when needed. Many of these lumps are benign (not cancer). He sees patients at Medcare Hospital Al Safa, Dubai. See him early if a lump grows quickly or feels hard. An adult with a neck lump lasting longer than 3 weeks should also be checked. Difficulty breathing needs emergency care straight away.

Finding a new lump in your face or neck is frightening, and most people think of cancer first. The good news is that many head and neck tumours are benign. They are not cancer and do not spread. Still, every lump needs the right check, and a head and neck tumor doctor in Dubai can tell you what yours is.

Dr. Muhammad Jabbr is a Consultant ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon at Medcare Hospital Al Safa, with more than 20 years of experience. For a growth in the face or neck, many patients count him among the best specialists in Dubai.

This guide covers the common non-cancerous tumours, how doctors tell them apart from cancer, and when to watch a lump or remove it.

Benign or malignant: what is the difference?

A tumour is an abnormal growth or lump. The word on its own does not mean cancer.

Benign tumours usually grow slowly, stay in one place and do not spread. They can still cause trouble if they press on a nerve, a gland or the airway.
Malignant tumours are cancers. They can grow into nearby tissue and spread to lymph nodes or other organs.

A few benign types can, after many years, change into cancer. That is why knowing the exact type matters.

Our neck lump specialist page covers the first steps of a general lump check. If tests show cancer, the plan is different, and our head and neck cancer surgery page explains that path.

Which benign tumours are most common in the head and neck?

Each has its own typical feel and place.

Lipoma

A lipoma is a lump of fat cells, usually just under the skin. It feels soft and doughy and slides under your fingers. It is usually painless and grows very slowly, though some become large.

Epidermoid (sebaceous) cysts

These are small sacs under the skin filled with a soft, cheesy material. You may see a tiny dark dot on the surface. They can turn red, sore and swollen if infected.

Pleomorphic adenoma

This is the most common benign salivary gland tumour. It usually grows in the parotid gland, in front of or just below the ear. Less often, it starts in the gland under the jaw or in the roof of the mouth. It feels firm and enlarges slowly.

Warthin tumour

This growth forms almost only in the parotid gland. It is seen more in older adults and in people who smoke, and it can appear on both sides. It is almost always benign.

Thyroid nodules

A thyroid nodule is a lump inside the thyroid gland, low in the front of the neck. Most are benign. A thyroid lump usually rises when you swallow, which helps a doctor tell it apart from other neck lumps.

Nerve sheath tumours

Schwannomas and neurofibromas grow from the tissue around a nerve. In the neck, they often sit deep to the side. Pressing on one may cause tingling, and it may move a little from side to side but not up and down.

How does a head and neck tumor doctor in Dubai tell benign from malignant?

No single clue gives the answer. Your doctor puts several pieces together.

Your story. How long has the lump been there, and is it growing? Do you smoke? Have you had pain, weight loss or a hoarse voice?
Examination. Your doctor checks the lump's size, firmness and how freely it moves. They also check your face movement, mouth, throat and lymph nodes. A thin camera through the nose may be used to see the throat.
Ultrasound scan. This painless scan shows which tissue the lump comes from and whether it is solid or full of fluid. Smooth, clear edges often suggest a benign growth, but do not prove it.
Needle sample. In fine-needle aspiration (FNA), a very thin needle, often guided by ultrasound, draws out a few cells for the lab. A core needle biopsy takes a little more tissue when needed.
MRI or CT scan. These help when a tumour is deep, large or close to nerves and blood vessels, and they guide any surgery.

A needle test is useful but not always final. If the sample is too small to be sure, your doctor may repeat it or advise removing the lump so the whole tumour can be checked.

Signs that a lump needs a faster check

Most benign tumours are slow and quiet. Book an early visit if you notice any of these:

A neck lump in an adult that lasts longer than 3 weeks
A lump that grows quickly over a few weeks
A lump that feels hard or fixed in place
Weakness or drooping on one side of the face
Pain, numbness, or skin over the lump that breaks down or bleeds
A hoarse voice, trouble swallowing, blood in your saliva or weight loss you cannot explain

Go to an emergency department straight away if you have difficulty breathing, or a painful, hot neck swelling with a high fever.

Watch or remove? A guide by tumour type

Once tests show a lump is benign, there is often no rush, and you can take part in the decision.

Lipoma: a small one that does not bother you can usually be left alone. Removal is an option if it grows, feels uncomfortable or affects your looks. A large, deep or hard lipoma is checked more closely first.
Skin cyst: one that keeps getting infected is usually removed after the infection settles. Taking out the whole sac makes a return less likely.
Pleomorphic adenoma: removal is usually advised. It tends to keep growing, carries a small long-term cancer risk, and is simpler to remove while small.
Warthin tumour: once the diagnosis is clear, regular checks can be reasonable, especially for older people or those with other health problems.
Thyroid nodule: most benign nodules are watched with repeat ultrasound. Surgery is considered if a nodule is large, presses on the windpipe or food pipe, or results are unclear.
Nerve sheath tumour: removal can weaken the nerve it grows from, so small, quiet tumours are often watched with MRI scans.

Whatever the type, removal is usually advised if tests cannot rule out cancer. Watching does not mean ignoring. It means checks at set times, and an earlier visit if the lump changes.

What removing a benign tumour usually involves

A small lipoma or skin cyst can often be removed through a small cut under local anaesthetic. Deeper tumours usually need a general anaesthetic.

Salivary gland tumours need extra care because of nearby nerves. Our parotid gland surgery page explains how the surgeon protects the facial nerve, which moves your face. Growths in the gland under the jaw are covered under submandibular gland surgery, and thyroid lumps under thyroid surgery.

The aim is to remove the whole growth, so it is less likely to come back. The tissue then goes to the lab to confirm its type. Your surgeon will explain risks such as bleeding, infection, a scar, numbness, or nerve weakness, which is usually temporary but can occasionally last.

Planning your care with Dr. Muhammad Jabbr

Many head and neck tumours lie close to key nerves and blood vessels, so training matters. Dr. Jabbr holds an MD and MS, the DOHNS (England), and both the European and Arab Boards in ORL-HNS. He has done more than 3,000 ENT procedures, for adults and children. He will go through your results with you and help you weigh watching against removal.

Patients rate him 4.9 on Google, across 406 reviews. His wider surgical work is described on our head and neck surgery page.

Book an appointment

You will find Dr. Muhammad Jabbr at the ENT Department of Medcare Hospital Al Safa, on Hadiqa Street in Al Safa 1, Dubai. Bring any scans or reports you already have.

To see him about a lump, book online or call +971 52 751 7811.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a benign tumour turn into cancer?

Most never do. A few types, such as pleomorphic adenoma, carry a small risk of change over many years. Your doctor will tell you if yours is one of them.

Is a soft lump that moves always harmless?

Soft, mobile lumps, like most lipomas, are usually benign. But the feel of a lump alone cannot confirm what it is. An examination, and often an ultrasound, is still needed.

Can a needle biopsy make a tumour spread?

A fine-needle sample is safe and widely used, and the chance of it spreading a tumour is extremely small. Doctors usually avoid cutting a piece out of a salivary gland lump, which is one reason a needle is preferred.

Can I have a benign lump removed because I don't like how it looks?

Often, yes. Small skin lumps such as lipomas and cysts are commonly removed for comfort or appearance. For deeper tumours near nerves, your surgeon will first weigh the benefit against the risks with you.

How often is a lump checked if I choose to watch it?

It depends on the type and size. Many people have a repeat check or scan after a few months, then less often if nothing changes. Come back sooner if it grows, hurts or feels different.

Summing up

Many lumps in the head and neck are not cancer, but each one deserves a clear diagnosis. Once you know the type, you can choose calmly between watching and removal. If a lump is worrying you, an early visit to Dr. Muhammad Jabbr can give you answers and a plan that suits you.