Early results of robotic assisted nasopharyngectomy for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Background Minimally invasive nasopharyngectomy with the da Vinci surgical robot has been shown to be a feasible operation for salvage of recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The current case series presents the early results of robotic nasopharyngectomy. Methods We conducted a prospective series of patients who underwent robotic nasopharyngectomy for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma in a single institution. Results Twelve patients underwent robotic nasopharyngectomy. The median operating time was 225 minutes. Median follow‐up time was 23.8 months. Nine patients had clear resection margins, 2 patients had close margins, and 1 patient had positive margin. Two patients developed local recurrence and 1 patient had distant metastasis. Two patients in the cohort died of unrelated causes. The 2‐year local control rate was 86%. The 2‐year overall survival and disease‐free survival was 83% and 61%, respectively. Conclusion Early results of robotic nasopharyngectomy showed a high local control rate. The operating time was comparable to open surgery and morbidities were low. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37: 788–793, 2015