Transoral Robotic Oropharyngectomy (TORS) Surgical Technique for Cancers of Tonsil and Base of Tongue
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2025-05-18
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Open Access Atlas of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Operative Surgery
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University of Cape Town
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Abstract
In this chapter the authors describe the use of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for excision of tonsil and base of tongue (BOT) tumours, including patient selection, preoperative workup, operative management, and perioperative care. As of 2015, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 18,917 new cases of oropharyngeal cancers (OPSCC) annually. This burden of disease has increased in recent decades with the rapid increase of human papillomavirus (HPV) associated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which is now found in 70% of new cases in the United States of America and Europe. Traditionally, surgical management of OPSCC required either transoral resection or open approaches, including suprahyoid (transhyoid) pharyngotomy, lip-split mandibulotomy (mandibular swing), or pull-through techniques that utilise a transcervical visor incision. While these approaches provide excellent surgical access, they may cause significant functional impairment.
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Meyer, Charles. D., Larson, Andrew. R., Richmon, Jeremy. D. & Holcomb, Andrew. J. 2025. Transoral Robotic Oropharyngectomy (TORS) Surgical Technique for Cancers of Tonsil and Base of Tongue. In Open Access Atlas of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Operative Surgery. J. Fagan, Ed.Cape Town, South Africa: University of Cape Town. 21. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43541 .