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Meta-Analysis
. 2019 Apr:91:97-106.
doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2019.02.018. Epub 2019 Mar 6.

Transoral tongue base mucosectomy for the identification of the primary site in the work-up of cancers of unknown origin: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Saadia Farooq  1 , Sunil Khandavilli  1 , Janine Dretzke  2 , David Moore  2 , Paul C Nankivell  3 , Neil Sharma  3 , John R de Almeida  4 , Stuart C Winter  5 , Christian Simon  6 , Vinidh Paleri  7 , Mrganke De  8 , Somiah Siddiq  8 , Christopher Holsinger  9 , Robert L Ferris  10 , Hisham Mehanna  11
Affiliations
Free article
Meta-Analysis

Transoral tongue base mucosectomy for the identification of the primary site in the work-up of cancers of unknown origin: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Saadia Farooq et al. Oral Oncol. 2019 Apr.
Free article

Abstract

Background: The use of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and laser microsurgery (TLM) in the diagnosis and identification of the site of the unknown primary has become increasingly common. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the use and efficacy of TORS and TLM for this indication.

Method: Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies employing TORS or TLM in diagnosis of the unknown primary tumor site in patients with cervical nodal metastases of squamous cell origin. MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINHAL were searched from inception to July 2018 for all studies that used TORS and or TLM in identifying the unknown primary.

Results: 251 studies were identified, of which 21 were eligible for inclusion. The primary tumour was identified by TORS/TLM in 78% of patients (433 out of 556). Tongue base mucosectomy (TBM) identified the primary in 222 of 427 cases (53%). In patients with negative physical examination, diagnostic imaging and PETCT, TBM identified the primary in 64% (95% CI 50, 79) cases. In patients who had negative CT/MRI imaging, negative PETCT and negative EUA and tonsillectomy, TBM identified a tongue base primary in 78% (95% CI 41, 92) cases. Haemorrhage, the commonest complication, was reported in 4.9% cases. Mean length of stay varied between 1.4 and 6.3 days.

Conclusion: Tongue base mucosectomy, performed by TORS or TLM, is highly efficacious in identifying the unknown primary in the head and neck region.

Keywords: Cancer of unknown origin; Head and neck cancer; Microsurgery; Tongue base mucosectomy; Trans oral LASER; Trans oral robotic surgery; Unknown primary.

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