Transoral robotic surgery: a 4-year learning experience in a single Danish Cancer Centre

Abstract

Background: The main indication for transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has been the primary treatment of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). In the western world this is highly relevant due to the increasing incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive OPSCC. In Denmark, TORS was implemented in 2013 for use in the protocolled primary treatment of OPSCC.Aims/objectives: To perform a year-by-year comparative analysis of indications for TORS, hospitalization and complication rates to identify optimal future indications for TORS.Methods and materials: This is a retrospective single-centre case review from 2013-2017. Data were collected from patient files through electronic health care systems.Results: Since 2013, there has been a change of indications from performing benign and salvage surgery to mainly primary treatment of OPSCC and diagnostic use in patients with cancer of unknown primary (CUP). The overall complication rates have reduced considerably over time.Conclusions and significance: Lower complication rates may be explained by improved surgical experience, through better patient selection and changes in indications for TORS. Future applications of TORS will be in the management of CUP and as part of a Danish national randomized clinical trial aiming to compare long-term functional outcomes after treatment of early-stage OPSCC with TORS versus radiation treatment.

Keywords: HPV; Transoral robotic surgery; complications indications learning curve; oropharyngeal cancer; unknown primary.