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Transoral robotic retropharyngeal node dissection in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: Patterns of metastasis and functional outcomes
Author(s) -
Troob Scott,
Givi Babak,
Hodgson Macgregor,
Mowery Alia,
Gross Neil D.,
Andersen Peter E.,
Clayburgh Daniel
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.24786
Subject(s) - medicine , transoral robotic surgery , neck dissection , perioperative , surgery , stage (stratigraphy) , basal cell , carcinoma , paleontology , biology
Background Assessment of the retropharyngeal lymph nodes is essential in the treatment for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Transoral robotic retropharyngeal lymph node dissection (RPLND) may provide valuable staging information and guide selection of adjuvant therapy in a transoral robotic surgery (TORS) treatment paradigm. Methods Outcomes were compared between 30 patients with oropharyngeal SCC with tonsillar primaries undergoing RPLND and 37 stage‐matched cases without RPLND. Results Retropharyngeal metastasis was confirmed in 6 patients undergoing RPLND. Compared with 37 stage‐matched controls, there were no differences in length of stay, length of feeding tube dependence, net change in perioperative weight, or rates of hemorrhage and postoperative complications. RPLND altered adjuvant treatment recommendations in 1 of 30 patients. Conclusion RPLND is technically feasible by a purely transoral robotic approach. Its performance is not associated with worse swallowing outcomes or rates of complication. In select patients, RPLND may provide valuable staging information and guide the selection of adjuvant therapy.