Abstract
Transoral robotic surgery has been gaining widespread acceptance for the treatment of oropharyngeal malignancies. It has shown tremendous growth in the field of non-oropharyngeal malignancies like thyroidectomy, neck dissection, and parapharyngeal tumours. Many studies have aimed at studying the safety and efficacy of the technique. The literature is abundant for procedures and treatment protocols for oropharyngeal malignancy; however, there is paucity on its usability in non-oropharyngeal malignancy. We aim to review the literature to analyse the usability of robotics in non-oropharyngeal tumours and study the evolution and future applications of robotics in head and neck cancer. A thorough literature search using keywords “Transoral robotic surgery”, “TORS”, “ Robotics in Head and Neck”, “ Robot-assisted Neck Dissection”, “ Robotic Thyroidectomy”, “ Robotic Laryngectomy”, “ Robotics in salivary gland disease”, “ Parapharyngeal space”, “Systematic review”, and “Meta-analysis” was done. The articles were reviewed individually by each author for a dedicated sub-heading. A narrative review was formulated under the subheadings—thyroid surgery, salivary gland, neck dissection, parapharyngeal space, and laryngectomy. The role of robotics has expanded with the advances in technology. Non-oropharyngeal head and neck disease can be approached using robotics. Careful patient selection provides a significant advantage of function and cosmesis and helps in avoiding inadvertent complications. With our growing experience, we might see a surge in robot-assisted head and neck surgery.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Weinstein GS, O’malley BW Jr, Hockstein NG (2005) Transoral robotic surgery: supraglottic laryngectomy in a canine model. Laryngoscope 115(7):1315–9. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.MLG.0000170848.76045.47
Paek SH, Kang KH (2016) Robotic thyroidectomy and cervical neck dissection for thyroid cancer. Gland Surg 5(3):342–351. https://doi.org/10.21037/gs.2015.10.04
Tae K, Ji YB, Song CM, Ryu J (2019) Robotic and endoscopic thyroid surgery: evolution and advances. Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol 12(1):1–11. https://doi.org/10.21053/ceo.2018.00766
Jackson NR, Yao L, Tufano RP, Kandil EH (2014) Safety of robotic thyroidectomy approaches: meta-analysis and systematic review. Head Neck 36(1):137–143. https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.23223
Kandil E, Hammad AY, Walvekar RR, Hu T, Masoodi H, Mohamed SE (2016) Deniwar A et al Robotic thyroidectomy versus nonrobotic approaches: a meta-analysis examining surgical outcomes. Surg Innov 23(3):317–325. https://doi.org/10.1177/1553350615613451
He Q, Zhu J, Zhuang D, Fan Z, Zheng L, Zhou P et al (2020) Robotic lateral cervical lymph node dissection via bilateral axillo-breast approach for papillary thyroid carcinoma: a single-center experience of 260 cases. J Robot Surg 14(2):317–323. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11701-019-00986-3
Lee SG, Lee J, Kim MJ, Choi JB, Kim TH, Ban EJ et al (2016) Long-term oncologic outcome of robotic versus open total thyroidectomy in PTC: a case-matched retrospective study. Surg Endosc 30(8):3474–3479. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-015-4632-9
Liu SYW, Ng EKW. Robotic versus open thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid cancer: an evidence-based review. Int J Endocrinol https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/4309087
Shen H, Shan C, Qiu M (2014) Systematic review and meta-analysis of transaxillary robotic thyroidectomy versus open thyroidectomy. Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech 24(3):199–206. https://doi.org/10.1097/SLE.0b013e3182a47a40
Sun GH, Peress L, Pynnonen MA (2014) Systematic review and meta-analysis of robotic vs conventional thyroidectomy approaches for thyroid disease. Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg Off J Am Acad Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg 150(4):520–532. https://doi.org/10.1177/0194599814521779
Son SK, Kim JH, Bae JS, Lee SH (2015) Surgical safety and oncologic effectiveness in robotic versus conventional open thyroidectomy in thyroid cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Surg Oncol 22(9):3022–3032. https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-015-4375-9
Lang BH-H, Wong CKH, Tsang JS, Wong KP, Wan KY (2014) A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing surgically-related complications between robotic-assisted thyroidectomy and conventional open thyroidectomy. Ann Surg Oncol 21(3):850–861. https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-013-3406-7
Luginbuhl A, Schwartz DM, Sestokas AK, Cognetti D, Pribitkin E (2012) Detection of evolving injury to the brachial plexus during transaxillary robotic thyroidectomy. Laryngoscope 122(1):110–115. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.22429
Ban EJ, Yoo JY, Kim WW et al (2014) Surgical complications after robotic thyroidectomy for thyroid carcinoma: a single center experience with 3,000 patients. Surg Endosc 28:2555–2563. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-014-3502-1)
Terris DJ, Haus BM, Gourin CG, Lilagan PE (2005) Endo-robotic resection of the submandibular gland in a cadaver model. Head Neck 27(11):946–951. https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.20273
Lee HS, Park DY, Hwang CS, Bae SH, Suh MJ, Koh YW et al (2013) Feasibility of robot-assisted submandibular gland resection via retroauricular approach: preliminary results. Laryngoscope 123(2):369–373. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.23321
Prosser JD, Bush CM, Solares CA, Brown JJ (2013) Trans-oral robotic submandibular gland removal. J Robot Surg 7(1):87–90. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11701-012-0369-9
Hald J, Andreassen UK (1994) Submandibular gland excision: short- and long-term complications. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec 56(2):87–91. https://doi.org/10.1159/000276616
Kang SW, Jeong JJ, Yun JS, Sung TY, Lee SC, Lee YS et al (2009) Robot-assisted endoscopic surgery for thyroid cancer: experience with the first 100 patients. Surg Endosc 23(11):2399–2406. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-009-0366-x
Kim MJ, Lee J, Lee SG, Choi JB, Kim TH, Ban EJ et al (2017) Transaxillary robotic modified radical neck dissection: a 5-year assessment of operative and oncologic outcomes. Surg Endosc 31(4):1599–1606. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-016-5146-9
Blanco RGF, Ha PK, Califano JA, Fakry C, Richmon J, Saunders JM (2012) Robotic-assisted neck dissection through a pre- and post-auricular hairline incision: preclinical study. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A 22(8):791–796. https://doi.org/10.1089/lap.2011.0536
Sukato DC, Ballard DP, Abramowitz JM, Rosenfeld RM, Mlot S (2019) Robotic versus conventional neck dissection: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Laryngoscope 129(7):1587–1596. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.27533
O’Malley BW Jr, Weinstein GS, Snyder W, Hockstein NG (2006) Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for base of tongue neoplasms. Laryngoscope 116(8):1465–1472. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.mlg.0000227184.90514.1a
Chu F, Tagliabue M, Giugliano G, Calabrese L, Preda L, Ansarin M (2017) From transmandibular to transoral robotic approach for parapharyngeal space tumors. Am J Otolaryngol 38(4):375–379. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2017.03.004
Maglione MG, Guida A, Pavone E, Longo F, Aversa C, Villano S, Ionna F (2018) Transoral robotic surgery of parapharyngeal space tumours: a series of four cases. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 47(8):971–975. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijom.2018.01.008
Chan JYK, Tsang RK, Eisele DW, Richmon JD (2015) Transoral robotic surgery of the parapharyngeal space: a case series and systematic review. Head Neck 37(2):293–298. https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.23557
Park YM, De Virgilio A, Kim WS, Chung HP, Kim SH (2013) Parapharyngeal space surgery via a transoral approach using a robotic surgical system: transoral robotic surgery. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A 23(3):231–236. https://doi.org/10.1089/lap.2012.0197
Hockstein NG, Nolan JP, O’Malley BW, Woo YJ (2005) Robot-assisted pharyngeal and laryngeal microsurgery: results of robotic cadaver dissections. Laryngoscope 115(6):1003–1008. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.WNL.0000164714.90354.7D
Kayhan FT, Kaya KH, Sayin I (2012) Transoral robotic cordectomy for early glottic carcinoma. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 121(8):497–502. https://doi.org/10.1177/000348941212100801
Lallemant B, Chambon G, Garrel R, Kacha S, Rupp D, Galy-Bernadoy C et al (2013) Transoral robotic surgery for the treatment of T1–T2 carcinoma of the larynx: preliminary study. Laryngoscope 123(10):2485–2490. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.23994
Wang C-C, Liu S-A, Wu S-H, Lin W-J, Jiang R-S, Wang L (2016) Transoral robotic surgery for early glottic carcinoma involving anterior commissure: preliminary reports. Head Neck 38(6):913–918. https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.24354
Olsen SM, Moore EJ, Koch CA, Price DL, Kasperbauer JL, Olsen KD (2012) Transoral robotic surgery for supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma. Am J Otolaryngol 33(4):379–384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2011.10.007
Mendelsohn AH, Remacle M, Vorst SVD, Bachy V, Lawson G (2013) Outcomes following transoral robotic surgery: supraglottic laryngectomy. Laryngoscope 123(1):208–214. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.23621
Smith RV, Schiff BA, Sarta C, Hans S, Brasnu D (2013) Transoral robotic total laryngectomy. Laryngoscope 123(3):678–682. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.23842
Lawson G, Mendelsohn A, Fakhoury R, Van der Vorst S, Remacle M, Bachy V et al (2018) Transoral robotic surgery total laryngectomy. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec 80(3–4):171–177. https://doi.org/10.1159/000490595
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shankar, R., Mishra, A. & Malik, A. Role of Robotics in Non-oropharyngeal Head and Neck Tumours. Indian J Surg Oncol 13, 436–442 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13193-022-01526-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13193-022-01526-6