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A systematic review on Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for carcinoma of unknown primary origin: Has tongue base mucosectomy become indispensable?
Author(s) -
Weert Stijn,
Rijken Johannes A.,
Plantone Francesca,
Bloemena Elisabeth,
Vergeer Marije R.,
Lissenberg Witte Birgit I.,
Leemans C. René
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
clinical otolaryngology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.914
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1749-4486
pISSN - 1749-4478
DOI - 10.1111/coa.13565
Subject(s) - medicine , transoral robotic surgery , occult , tongue , surgery , incidence (geometry) , carcinoma , basal cell , head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , head and neck , head and neck cancer , pathology , radiation therapy , physics , alternative medicine , optics
Background Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is increasingly used in head and neck surgery and in carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) origin specifically. Due to the rising incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)‐related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), there is a rationale for finding ways to de‐escalate treatment strategies. This review aims to test the hypothesis that TORS is a meaningful adjunct in the diagnostic (and therapeutic) pathway in CUP in head and neck. Methods A structured search of the literature was performed with the search terms ‘TORS’ and ‘Carcinoma of Unknown Primary’. Results Two hundred and seventy four cases of CUP in which TORS was used were identified for further analysis. Workup for CUP was comparable in all series with regard to physical examination, fine and/or gross needle examination of cervical nodes, fibre optic endoscopy, imaging and robot assisted mucosectomy of the base of tongue (BOT). Identification rate of the primary tumour was 72% on average (range 17%‐ 90%), and 55%‐ 96% were HPV positive. Clear margins were achieved in 60% (range 0%‐85%) of resected occult tumours. Complication rate of TORS BOT mucosectomy was low with mainly grade I‐III sequelae according to Clavien–Dindo. Conclusions Transoral robotic surgery seems to be a useful and safe adjunct in the diagnostic and therapeutic pathway in case of CUP in an era of increasing incidence of HPV‐positive OPSCC.