Book excerpt: The knowledge base required of the modern day head a neck surgeon, as a key member of a comprehensive and wide-ranging multi-disciplinary team, is significant. The sixth edition of Stell & Maran's Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology continues to be the leading reference book in the specialty. This accessible and authoritative text is fully revised and updated to reflect international practice across the multidisciplinary team. A global community of expert authors have provided chapters covering the knowledge base required by today's head and neck surgeon. The fundamentals of head and neck oncologic practice encompassing pathology, imaging, staging, prehabilitation, surgical approaches and reconstruction, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, biological therapies, and many more are covered. Key sections of the book cover the wide range of tumours by anatomical site and rare cancers. Future perspectives are reviewed with topics on how to become a clinical trialist, delivering surgical innovation, and personalised approaches to head and neck cancer therapy providing insights for the future. With contributions from the full spectrum of the multidisciplinary team, this book will also be a major up-to-date resource for both trainees and established practitioners in otolaryngology, maxillofacial surgery, plastic surgery, endocrine surgery, clinical oncology, oncology nursing and those professions allied to medicine, such as speech and language therapy, and dietetics.