Dr. Mahalakshmi Rangabashyam Shetty

About

Dr. Mahalakshmi Rangabashyam Shetty is Senior Consultant, Department of Circadian & Sleep Health, at Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre. She is an ENT specialist with advanced expertise in Sleep and Thyroid Surgery.

She completed her MBBS from Madras Medical College, Chennai, followed by DipNB (ENT) from Southern Railway Headquarters Hospital, Chennai, and MRCS (ENT) from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. She subsequently pursued advanced clinical training and fellowships in Sleep Medicine and Thyroid Surgery.

Dr. Mahalakshmi has worked with several leading international institutions, including Singapore General Hospital, National Cancer Centre Singapore, and the SingHealth Duke-NUS Head & Neck Centre, where she gained over a decade of experience in Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery. After returning to India, she served at the Cancer Institute (WIA), Adyar, Chennai.

Her clinical interests include circadian and sleep health, snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, thyroid disorders, and quality-of-life aspects in head and neck cancer patients. She is actively involved in clinical research, public awareness initiatives, medical education, and quality improvement programs.

During her tenure at Singapore General Hospital, she received eight service quality awards and has contributed to several international journal publications and book chapters. She also collaborates with academic and healthcare institutions, including the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras).

At Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, Dr. Mahalakshmi focuses on the evaluation and management of sleep and circadian rhythm disorders, with a strong emphasis on preventive health and patient-centric care. Her philosophy is simple: “Less is more,” with the goal of promoting long-term health and well-being through early intervention and lifestyle-based care.

Research & Publications

1. Tan CC, Yeo PHL, Mahalakshmi R, Omar AB, Whye Ng CL, et al. Shoulder recovery for head and neck cancer patients after unilateral neck dissection: a pilot exploratory study. J Nov Physiother Rehabil. 2022; 6: 011-017.

2. Factors associated with returning to work in head and neck cancer survivors in Singapore: A preliminary exploratory mixed-methods approach study. Rangabashyam M, Koh SQ, Sultana R, Tan NC, Iyer NG, Soo KC, Fenwick E, Lamoureux E, Tan HK. Head & Neck. 2021 Feb 18.

3. Stressors and coping strategies of migrant workers diagnosed with COVID-19 in Singapore: a qualitative study. Yee K, Peh HP, Tan YP, Teo I, Tan EUT, Paul J, Rangabashyam M, Ramalingam MB, Chow W, Tan HK. BMJ Open. 2021 Mar 19;11(3): e045949.

4. Adherence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients to tumor board recommendations. Rangabashyam M, Lee SY, Tan SY, Mueller S, Sultana R, Ho J,  Skanthakumar T, Tan NC, Tan HK, Soo KC, Iyer NG. Cancer Med. 2020 Jul;9(14):5124-5133.

5. Impact of Radiotherapy on Neck Dissection Nodal Count in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer. Yu Y, Sultana R, Rangabashyam M, Mohan N, Hwang JSG, Soong YL, Tan NC, Iyer NG, Tan HK. Laryngoscope. 2020 Aug;130(8):1947-1953.

6. Hyoid expansion with titanium plate and screws with hyomandibular suspension: A study on human cadavers with computed tomographic comparative analysis. Ng ACW, Salkade PR, Rangabashyam M, Loh SRH, Toh ST. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2020 Oct 21;5(6):1240-1246.

7. Electronic tumor board presentations as the basis for the development of a head and neck cancer database. Rangabashyam M, Wee HE, Wang W, et al. Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology.  2020; 5: 46- 54.

8. Inner Ear Disorders: Exploring Possible Links between the Endolymphatic Sac, Gall Bladder and Small Intestine.Low W-K, Dip G, Poh S, Rangabashyam M (2017)Int J Complement Alt Med 8(6): 00278.

9. Relation of Cardiac Arrhythmias to Hypoxic Time and Lowest Oxygen Saturation in patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea in an Asian Context: a Singapore Sleep Centre Study.   Ng ACW, Neo WL, Rangabashyam M, Ho KL, Hao Ying, Senin SRB, Toh ST. Ann. Acad Med Singapore.2017 May;46(5):210-212.

10. Quality of Life in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Role for Oxygen Desaturation Indices?  Huang W, Rangabashyam M, Hao Y, Liu J, Toh ST. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2016 Sep;45(9):404-412.

11. Systematic Review of Transoral Robotic Surgery in the management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea & Hypopnea Syndrome [Review article]. Rangabashyam M, Wenjie Huang, Ying Hao, Shaun Loh, Hong Juan Han, Song Tar Toh. Robotic Surgery: Research and Reviews, May 2016.

12. Prevalence of Cardiac Arrhythmias in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the Asian Context—A Singapore Sleep Center Experience.Neo WL, Ng ACW, Rangabashyam M, Ho KL, Hao Ying, Senin SRB, Toh ST. J Clin Sleep Med. 2017 Nov 2015;13(11):1265-1271.

13. Electrode array extrusion through the posterior canal wall presenting as a delayed post-cochler implant complication. Rangabashyam M, Poh SS, Low WK Cochlear Implants Int. 2015 Apr

14. Management of major post-cochlear implant wound infections. Low WK, Rangabashyam M, Wang F. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2014 Sep;271(9):2409-13.

15. Inflammatory pseudo-tumor of the endolymphatic sac: a case report. Tan B, Loh A, Yong TT, Rangabashyam M, Kein LW. 2013 Sep-Oct;34(5):574-8.

16. Long term Eustachian tube dysfunction in post radiotherapy carcinoma patients, Low WK, Rangabashyam M, Cholesteatoma and ear surgery update. Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Cholesteatoma and ear surgery. June 3-7, 2012, Nagasaki, Japan. Pg41-43. Kugler publications, Amsterdam.

Book Chapters

17. Multidisciplinary Care in Head and Neck Surgery. Mahalakshmi Rangabashyam, Cyrus Kerawala and N Gopalakrishna Iyer. Chapter 8; 1-12; Stell & Maran Textbook of Head and Neck Surgery6^th Edition 2025.

18. Minor salivary gland neoplasms [Review article]. Goh C, Rangabashyam M, Tan TY.  Journal ENT Master Class2013; 6(1): 87-93.

19. Ear-Related Issues in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (Book Chapter) Wong Kein Christopher Low and Rangabashyam M (2012). Carcinogenesis, Diagnosis, and Molecular Targeted Treatment for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Dr. Shih-Shun Chen (Editor). Intechopen.com books; Carcinogenesis diagnosis and molecular targeted treatment for nasopharyngeal-carcinoma.