Head and Neck Neoplasm

This study is being done to see whether signals from a device that monitors blood flow through the free flap can be recorded and converted from an audible signal, like a heartbeat, into a visual signal. Researchers plan to use this information to ultimately help surgeons and care teams monitor free flaps to try to prevent flap failure.

The purpose of this research is to identify a biomarker that is exists when human papillomavirus (HPV) mediated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is present and does not exist when HPV mediated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is absent.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a blood-based test that measures dying or dead cancer cells that are already circulating in the blood. In this study, the investigators will enroll patients who are planning to receive surgery to remove their head and neck cancer. The investigators are interested to learn how ctDNA levels change with surgery and over the course of time. The investigators also want to determine if there are certain features of the tumor or the patient themselves that might cause ctDNA to be higher than other patients. Also, the investigators want to explore if the detection of ctDNA following surgery is related to cancer recurrence.