Dr. Rayappa C is one of the most experienced and skilled head and neck surgical oncologists in India, with over three decades of clinical expertise. He is known for pioneering minimally invasive techniques in skull base and nasopharyngeal cancer surgeries, significantly improving patient outcomes. As the founder of the Department of Head & Neck and Skull Base Surgery at Apollo Cancer Centre, Chennai, he has mentored numerous surgical fellows and continues to contribute to academic and clinical excellence in oncology.

Educational Qualifications

• MBBS – 1982, Tamil Nadu Medical College (TNMC)
• DLO (Diploma in Otorhinolaryngology) – 1986, TNMC
• FRCS (Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons) – 1989, TNMC

Professional Experience

• Senior Consultant – Head & Neck Oncology and Skull Base Surgery, Apollo Cancer Centre, Chennai
• Founded the Department of Head & Neck and Skull Base Surgery at Apollo Cancer Centre, Chennai.
• Mentor and guide to Surgical Oncology fellows at Apollo Cancer Centre.

Notable Achievements

• Among the few surgeons in India proficient in performing open and endoscopic nasopharyngectomy for nasopharyngeal malignancies.
• Pioneer in utilizing advanced minimally invasive surgical techniques with endoscope, laser, and robotic technology to reduce morbidity and improve quality of life.
• Published several papers in peer-reviewed journals.
• Invited speaker at national and international conferences.
• Conducted numerous medical conferences and workshops.

Fellowships:

• FRCS – Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons

Publications

• Skull Base Surgery. In Textbook of Contemporary Neurosurgery (Vol.2). Ed. by Vincent A Thamburaj. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers. Delhi. 2012. Pages 1273-1304

• Cancer of the skull base. In Essentials of Head and Neck Cancer. Ed. By Alberto Staffieri et al. Byword Books, Delhi. 2012.

• Jugular foramen tumors. Otorhinolaryngology Clinics: An International Journal. January – April 2011; 3(1): 15-23

• Giant hemangioma of the naso-oro-hypopharynx treated by midline mandible split. Bangladesh J Otolaryngol 2011; 17(1): 62-67

• Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the mandible and infratemporal fossa – a case report Accepted for publication – International Journal of Surgery

• Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Surgery for Acromegaly Indian Journal of Endocrine Surgery. Vol.6 No.6 Nov 2001 Pages 35 - 36

• Skull base Surgery A booklet, which briefly describes the various approaches to skull base with illustrative case reports. 2001.

• Thyroplasty Type I Indian Journal of Endocrine Surgery. Vol.5 No.5 November 2000 Pages 17 – 18

• Solitary Fibrous Tumors of the Infratemporal Fossa The Journal of Laryngology and Otology. Vol.110 June 1996 Pages 594-597

• Intraoral Sebaceous Carcinoma The Journal of Laryngology and Otology. Vol.110 May 1996 Pages 500-502

• A Study of Haemostasias following tonsillectomy comparing ligatures and diathermy The Journal of Laryngology and Otology. Vol.107 August 1993 Pages 711-715

• Resection and Re-anastomosis for the management of Tracheal Stenosis Indian Journal of Otolaryngology Vol.39 No.4 Dec.1987

• Neoglottis Phonatoria Indian Journal of Otolaryngology. Vol.37 No.3 September 1985

• Laryngotracheal Injuries – Aetiology, Prevention and Management The Antiseptic Vol.81 No.12 Dec.1984 Pages 685-688

• Role of Allergy Clinic in the treatment of Nasal Allergy The Antiseptic. Vol.81 No.5 May 1984 Pages 245-249

Presentations

• “Endoscopic approach to anterior skull base” 17th Annual Conference of the Skull Base Surgery Society of India. Bangalore. October 2015

• “Endoscopic Nasopharyngectomy” 15th Annual Conference of FHNO, Nagpur – September 2015

• “Endoscopic Nasopharyngectomy" 1st National Convention of Indian Academy of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery - 14th December 2014

• "Surgical management of recurrent skull base tumors" 1st National Convention of Indian Academy of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery - 14th December 2014

• "Endoscopic Nasopharyngectomy”. 16th Annual Conference of the Skull Base Surgery Society of India. Pondicherry. 11th-12th October 2014

• “Front Door to Meckel’s Cave (Endoscopic Transnasal Approach)”. Association of Otolaryngologists of India – Chennai branch - March 2013

• “Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery”. AOCMF Neuro Interdisciplinary Seminar, Bangalore. Oct 2012

• “Surgical management of malignant nasopharyngeal tumors”. 14th Annual Conference of Skull Base Surgery Society of India, Mumbai. Sept 2012.

• “Surgical management of malignant nasopharyngeal tumors”. Annual Conference of Kerala State Association of Otolaryngologists of India, Cochin. Sept 2012

• “Endoscopic Skull base Surgery” Annual Conference of Kerala State Association of Otolaryngologists of India, Cochin. Sept 2012

• “Surgical management of malignant nasopharyngeal tumors”. Royal Hospital, Sultanate of Oman. Dec 2011.

• “Surgical Approaches to Nasopharynx” Annual Conference of Maharashtra State Association of Otolaryngologists of India. Nov 2011

• “Endoscopic Skull base Surgery” Annual Conference of Andhra Pradesh Association of Otolaryngologists of India. Sept. 2011

• “Transracial Approaches to Skull Base” Annual Conference of Maharashtra State Association of Otolaryngologists of India. Dec 2010.

• “Glomus Jugulare” 34th Annual Conference of Gujarat State Association of Otolaryngologists of India. Nov 2010.

• “Endoscopic Skull base Surgery” 34th Annual Conference of Gujarat State Conference of Association of Otolaryngologists of India. Nov 2010.

• “Beyond Sinuses” Indian Medical Association – Erode. Nov 2008.

• “Paragangliomas of Head and Neck” Association of Otolaryngologists of India – Erode branch Nov 2008.

• “Beyond Sinuses” FESS workshop – KKR - ENT Hospital, Chennai. Aug 2008.

• “Endoscopic Nasopharyngectomy” Association of Otolaryngologists of India – Chennai branch June 2008

• “Endoscopic surgery for clival chordoma” Association of Otolaryngologists of India – Chennai branch - March 2007

• “Extreme Lateral – Transcondylar Approach” Association of Otolaryngologists of India – Chennai branch Jan 2007

• “Tracheocele” Association of Otolaryngologists of India – Chennai branch - Dec 2007

• “Transracial Approaches to Middle Skull base” 11th Annual Conference of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India – Tamilnadu state branch at Tiruchirapalli – 29th September 2007

• “Head & Neck surgery – Myths & Facts” Association of Otolaryngologists of India – Coimbatore branch July 2007

• “Paragangliomas of Head & Neck” Association of Otolaryngologists of India – Coimbatore branch July 2007

• “Recent Trends in Head & Neck Surgery” Association of Otolaryngologists of India – Cochin branch June 2007

• “Endoscopic Pituitary Surgery” Association of Otolaryngologists of India – Cochin branch June 2007.

• “Skull base surgery in head & neck cancer” Kamakshi Memorial Cancer Hospital, Chennai. – May 2007.

• “Endoscopic management of CSF rhinorrhea” Symposium on CSF leak - Chennai Neuro Society – March 2007.

• “Surgical approaches to Nasopharyngeal Tumors” Association of Otolaryngologists of India – Coimbatore branch March 2007

• “Endoscopic Pituitary Surgery” Association of Otolaryngologists of India – Coimbatore branch March 2007.

• “Transracial approaches to Skull base” Recent advances in head & neck - Stanley Medical College – Feb 2007.

• “Endoscopic Pituitary Surgery” Pituitary symposium - Chennai Neuro Society – Jan 2007.

• “Facial Translocation Approach to Skull base” Dr. A. Mahadeviah Skull base session – 59th Annual Conference of AOI, Bhubaneswar. Jan 2007

• “Endoscopic Pituitary Surgery” FESS workshop – KKR - ENT Hospital, Chennai. Aug 2006.

• “Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea” Invited lecture – Sleep Medicine 2006 – Nithra Institute of Sleep Sciences. July 2006.

• “Cervico-mediastinal dissection for Stomal recurrence” Association of Otolaryngologists of India – Chennai branch January 2006.

• “Myths in head and neck surgery” Association of Surgeons of India – Erode branch. Jan 2006

• “Myths in head and neck surgery” Invited lecture – 80th National Conference of IMA, Chennai – Dec 2005

• “Transnasal endoscopic approach to petrous apex cyst” Presented at AOI south zone and Tamilnadu state conference, Pondicherry. Sept. 2005 - won the Gold medal

• “Going beyond filling a hole – Refinements in head & neck reconstruction” Invited lecture – 11th ASEAN ORL Head and Neck Congress, Bali, Indonesia. 23 -25 August 2005

• “Nasopharyngectomy” Invited lecture – 11th ASEAN ORL Head and Neck Congress, Bali, Indonesia. 23 -25 August 2005

• “Hoarseness” CME, Apollo Speciality Hospital, Chennai. August 2005

• “Nasopharyngectomy” CME, Sundaram Medical Foundation, Chennai, February 2005

• “Management of tumors of parapharyngeal space” CME, Sundaram Medical Foundation, Chennai, February 2005

• “Skull base surgery” CME, Sankaranethralaya, Chennai, February 2005

• “Current management of sinusitis” CME, Apollo Specialty Hospital, Chennai. January 2005

• “Transracial approaches to skull base” Invited lecture - 57th Annual Conference of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India, Hyderabad. January 2005

• “Approaches to anterior skull base tumors” Invited lecture - Foundation for Head & Neck Oncology, Hyderabad. January 2005

• “Surgical approaches to pterygopalatine and infratemporal fossa for nasopharyngeal tumors” Invited lecture – 9th Asian Research Symposium in Rhinology & 10th Biennial Congress of the Trans-Pacific Allergy & Immunology Society – held at Mumbai, India. November 2004.

• “Endoscopic management of lesions of sella turcica” Presented at 4th SAARC ENT Congress, Colombo, Sri Lanka. September 2004.

• “Management of mandible in oral and oropharyngeal tumors” Invited lecture – 4th SAARC ENT Congress, Colombo, Sri Lanka. September 2004.

• “Nasopharyngectomy for Nasopharyngeal carcinoma” Invited lecture – 4th SAARC ENT Congress, Colombo, Sri Lanka. September 2004.

• “Skull base surgery – Lateral approaches” Foundation for Head & Neck Oncology, New Delhi. January 2004

• “Moderated the panel discussion on ‘Head and Neck Reconstruction” Foundation for Head & Neck Oncology, New Delhi. January 2004.

• “Endoscopic surgery of the Sella and clival region” Guest lecture at the Royal College of Otolaryngologists of Sri Lanka. 2003.

• “Lateral approaches to Skull base” Presented at the annual conference of Foundation for Head & Neck Oncology, Kolkata. 2003.

• “Management of Neck in Head & Neck Cancer” CANCER CI – 2003. Hyderabad. 24th August 2003

• “Reconstruction of the tongue with Gastro-omental flap after Total Glossectomy” Presented at AOI south zone and Tamilnadu state conference, Chennai. Sept. 2002 - won the Gold medal

• “Surgical management of malignant lesions of Nasopharynx (Nasopharyngectomy)” Presented at the annual conference of Foundation for Head & Neck Oncology, Bangalore. January 2002.

• “Surgical management of malignant tumors of the nose and ethmoid sinuses” Comprehensive management of Tumors of the Nasal Cavity & Paranasal sinuses at Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai. Co-Sponsored by Indian Society of Head & Neck Oncology. 22nd & 23rd December 2001