Transoral Robotic Surgery for Head and Neck Cancer: Advances and Residual Knowledge Gaps

• Published in: Journal of clinical medicine Vol. 12; no. 6; p. 2303
• Main Authors: Mella, Mariam H, Chabrillac, Emilien, Dupret-Bories, Agnès, Mirallie, Mathilde, Vergez, Sébastien
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.03.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Care and treatment; Carotid arteries; Clinical medicine; Contraindications; Diagnosis; Head & neck cancer; Head and neck cancer; Health aspects; Human papillomavirus; Laparoscopy; Larynx; Magnetic resonance imaging; minimally invasive surgery; Obesity; Ostomy; Patient outcomes; Quality of life; Review; Robotic surgery; Squamous cell carcinoma; Surgical outcomes; Thyroid gland; Tongue; TORS; transoral robotic surgery; Tumors; Veins & arteries; France; United States > US; Germany; TORS; head and neck cancer; minimally invasive surgery; transoral robotic surgery; squamous cell carcinoma
• ISSN: 2077-0383; 2077-0383
• DOI: 10.3390/jcm12062303

Minimally invasive surgery is a growing field in surgical oncology. After acquiring its first Food and Drug Administration approval in 2009 for T1-T2 malignancies of the oral cavity, oropharynx, and larynx, transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has gained popularity thanks to its wristed instruments and magnified three-dimensional view, enhancing surgical comfort in remote-access areas. Its indications are expanding in the treatment of head and neck cancer, i.e., resection of tumors of the larynx, hypopharynx, or parapharyngeal space. However, this expansion must remain cautious and based on high-level evidence, in order to guarantee safety and oncological outcomes which are comparable to conventional approaches. This narrative review assesses the current role of TORS in head and neck cancer from an evidence-based perspective, and then identifies what knowledge gaps remain to be addressed.