Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The Emergence of Endoscopic Head and Neck Surgery

  • Published:
Current Oncology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Endoscopic and minimally invasive techniques represent a natural evolution for the discipline of head and neck surgery. Endoscopic head and neck surgery (eHNS) encompasses transoral laser microsurgery, transoral robotic surgery, as well as video-assisted and robotic surgery of the neck and thyroid. In the next 5 years, with robotic surgery and laser technology as a common platform, we foresee the development and widespread use of eHNS procedures, via transoral and transaxillary approaches.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance, •• Of major importance

  1. Strong MS, Jako GJ: Laser surgery in the larynx. Early clinical experience with continuous CO 2 laser. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1972, 81:791–798.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Steiner W: Experience in endoscopic laser surgery of malignant tumours of the upper aero-digestive tract. Adv Otorhinolaryngol 1988, 39:135–144.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Steiner W, Ambrosch P: Endoscopic Laser Surgery of the Upper Aerodigestive Tract –With Special Emphasis on Cancer Surgery. New York: Georg Thieme; 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Davis RK, Kriskovich MD, Galloway EB 3rd, et al.: Endoscopic supraglottic laryngectomy with postoperative irradiation. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2004, 113:132–138.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Motta G, Esposito E, Cassiano B, Motta S: T1-T2-T3 glottic tumors: fifteen years experience with CO2 laser. Acta Otol Laryngol Suppl 1997, 527:155–159.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Peretti G, Nicolai P, Piazza C, et al.: Oncological results of endoscopic resections of Tis and T1 glottic carcinomas by carbon dioxide laser. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2001, 110:820–826.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Holsinger FC, Prichard CN, Shapira G, et al.: Use of the photonic band gap fiber assembly CO2 laser system in head and neck surgical oncology. Laryngoscope 2006, 116:1288–1290.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Koufman JA, Rees CJ, Frazier WD, et al.: Office-based laryngeal laser surgery: a review of 443 cases using three wavelengths. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2007, 137:146–151.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. •• Remacle M, Lawson G, Nollevaux MC, Delos M: Current state of scanning micromanipulator applications with the carbon dioxide laser. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2008,117:239–244. This is the first paper describing the use of the carbon dioxide laser with a scanning robotic micromanipulator. The authors present data demonstrating a thermal injury zone as little as 12.5 microns.

  10. Dey P, Arnold D, Wight R, et al.: Radiotherapy versus open surgery versus endolaryngeal surgery (with or without laser) for early laryngeal squamous cell cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2002, 2:CD002027.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Ogoltsova ES, Paches AI, Matyakin EG: Comparative evaluation of the efficacy of radiotherapy, surgery and combined treatment of stage I-II laryngeal cancer (T1-2N0M0) on the basis of co-operative studies. J Otorhinolaryngol (Moscow) 1990, 3:3–7.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Coman WB, Hendrikz JK, Hickey B, et al.: Laser surgery for early glottic cancer. In Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress. Brisbane; 2003:5–9.

  13. Birchall M: EaStER--Early stage glottic cancer: endoscopic excision or radiotherapy: a feasibility study. National Research Register 2007, N0212194189.

  14. •• Rudert HH, Werner JA: Endoscopic resections of glottic and supraglottic carcinomas with the CO2 laser. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 1995, 252:146–148. This is a large single-institution series reviewing 161 patients who underwent transoral laser microsurgery for glottic and supraglottic cancers.

  15. Eckel HE, Thumfart W, Jungehulsing M, et al.: Transoral laser surgery for early glottic carcinoma. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2000, 257:221–226.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Peretti G, Piazza C, Bolzoni A, et al.: Analysis of recurrences in 322 Tis, T1, or T2 glottic carcinomas treated by carbon dioxide laser. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2004,113:853–858.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Motta G, Esposito E, Motta S, et al.: CO(2) laser surgery in the treatment of glottic cancer. Head Neck 2005, 27:566–573; discussion 573–574.

  18. Grant DG, Salassa JR, Hinni ML, et al.: Transoral laser microsurgery for untreated glottic carcinoma. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2007, 137:482–486.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Hinni ML, Salassa JR, Grant DG, et al.: Transoral laser microsurgery for advanced laryngeal cancer. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2007, 133:1198–1204.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Grant DG, Hinni ML, Salassa JR, et al.: Oropharyngeal cancer: a case for single modality treatment with transoral laser microsurgery. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2009, 135:1225–1230.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Rich JT, Milov S, Lewis JS Jr, et al.: Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) +/- adjuvant therapy for advanced stage oropharyngeal cancer: outcomes and prognostic factors. Laryngoscope 2009, 119:1709–1719.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. •• Gillison ML, D’Souza G, Westra W, et al.: Distinct risk factor profiles for human papillomavirus type 16-positive and human papillomavirus type 16-negative head and neck cancers. J Natl Cancer Inst 2008,100:407–420. This landmark case-control study demonstrates different risk factor profiles for HNC patients with HPV-positive versus HPV-negative disease. HPV-16-positive HNC was independently associated with several measures of sexual behavior but not with cumulative measures of tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, or poor oral hygiene.

  23. •• Chaturvedi AK, Engels EA, Anderson WF, Gillison ML: Incidence trends for human papillomavirus-related and -unrelated oral squamous cell carcinomas in the United States. J Clin Oncol 2008, 26:612–619. This is a thorough review of the longitudinal epidemiology of HPV-associated HNCs in the United States.

  24. Ryerson AB, Peters ES, Coughlin SS, et al.: Burden of potentially human papillomavirus-associated cancers of the oropharynx and oral cavity in the US, 1998-2003. Cancer 2008,113(Suppl 10):2901–2909.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Chung CH, Gillison ML: Human papillomavirus in head and neck cancer: its role in pathogenesis and clinical implications. Clin Cancer Res 2009, 15:6758–6762.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Machtay M, Moughan J, Trotti A, et al.: Factors associated with severe late toxicity after concurrent chemoradiation for locally advanced head and neck cancer: an RTOG analysis. J Clin Oncol 2008, 26:3582–3589.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. • 501(k) Summary of Safety and Efficacy for Transoral Otolaryngology Procedures. In Administration FaD: 2009. This is the source documentation for recent FDA approval of TORS.

  28. Larson DL, Kroll S, Jaffe N, et al.: Long-term effects of radiotherapy in childhood and adolescence. Am J Surg 1990, 160:348–351.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Čapek K: Rossum’s Universal Robots. 1921.

  30. Herron DM, Marohn M: A consensus document on robotic surgery. Surg Endosc 2008, 22:313–325; discussion 1–2.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Hockstein NG, O’Malley BW Jr, Weinstein GS: Assessment of intraoperative safety in transoral robotic surgery. Laryngoscope 2006, 116:165–168.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Hockstein NG, Nolan JP, O’Malley BW Jr, Woo YJ: Robotic microlaryngeal surgery: a technical feasibility study using the daVinci surgical robot and an airway mannequin. Laryngoscope 2005, 115:780–785.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. •• Weinstein GS, O'Malley BW Jr, Snyder W, et al.: Transoral robotic surgery: radical tonsillectomy. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2007, 133:1220–1226. This is the largest series to date of the transoral robotic technique for the treatment of tonsillar carcinoma.

  34. Weinstein GS, O'Malley BW Jr, Snyder W, Hockstein NG: Transoral robotic surgery: supraglottic partial laryngectomy. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2007, 116:19–23.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. O’Malley BW Jr, Weinstein GS, Snyder W, Hockstein NG: Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for base of tongue neoplasms. Laryngoscope 2006, 116:1465–1472.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. McLeod IK, Melder PC: Da Vinci robot-assisted excision of a vallecular cyst: a case report. Ear Nose Throat J 2005, 84:170–172.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Solares CA, Strome M: Transoral robot-assisted CO2 laser supraglottic laryngectomy: experimental and clinical data. Laryngoscope 2007, 117:817–820.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Desai SC, Sung CK, Jang DW, Genden EM: Transoral robotic surgery using a carbon dioxide flexible laser for tumors of the upper aerodigestive tract. Laryngoscope 2008, 118:2187–2189.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. McLeod IK, Mair EA, Melder PC: Potential applications of the da Vinci minimally invasive surgical robotic system in otolaryngology. Ear Nose Throat J 2005, 84:483–487.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Weinstein GS, O'Malley BW Jr, Hockstein NG: Transoral robotic surgery: supraglottic laryngectomy in a canine model. Laryngoscope 2005, 115:1315–1319.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Gagner M: Endoscopic subtotal parathyroidectomy in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Br J Surg 1996, 83:875.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Miccoli P, Pinchera A, Cecchini G, et al.: Minimally invasive, video-assisted parathyroid surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism. J Endocrinol Invest 1997, 20:429–430.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. •• Terris DJ, Angelos P, Steward DL, Simental AA: Minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy: a multi-institutional North American experience. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2008, 134:81–84. This multicenter trial evaluating the efficacy of MIVAT in the United States examined complications and efficacy.

  44. • Ikeda Y, Takami H, Sasaki Y, et al.: Endoscopic resection of thyroid tumors by the axillary approach. J Cardiovasc Surg 2000, 41:791–792. This important article describes the transaxillary approach, using a laparoscopic insufflating technique.

  45. Kim JS, Kim KH, Ahn CH, et al.: A clinical analysis of gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy. Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech 2001, 11:268–272.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Yoon JH, Park CH, Chung WY: Gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy via an axillary approach: experience of 30 cases. Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech 2006, 16:226–231.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Chang EH, Lobe TE, Wright SK: Our initial experience of the transaxillary totally endoscopic approach for hemithyroidectomy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2009, 141:335–339.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. •• Kang SW, Jeong JJ, Nam KH, et al.: Robot-assisted endoscopic thyroidectomy for thyroid malignancies using a gasless transaxillary approach. J Am Coll Surg 2009, 209:e1–e7. This landmark paper demonstrates Dr. Chung’s technique of robotic thyroidectomy, via transaxillary approach.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Terris DJ, Haus BM, Gourin CG, Lilagan PE: Endo-robotic resection of the submandibular gland in a cadaver model. Head Neck 2005, 27:946–951.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Werner JA, Sapundzhiev NR, Teymoortash A, et al.: Endoscopic sentinel lymphadenectomy as a new diagnostic approach in the N0 neck. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2004, 261:463–468.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Disclosure

No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Floyd Christopher Holsinger, Kitti Jantharapattana, Ahmed Salem, Randal S. Weber, Carol M. Lewis & David G. Grant

  2. Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Disorders, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Alexander D. Sweeney

  3. Department of Surgery, Severance Robot & Minimally Invasive Surgery Center, Severance Hospital and Yonsei University College of Medicine, C.P.O. Box 8044, 250 Seongsanno, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, South Korea

    Woong Youn Chung

Authors
  1. Floyd Christopher Holsinger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alexander D. Sweeney
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kitti Jantharapattana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ahmed Salem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Randal S. Weber
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Woong Youn Chung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Carol M. Lewis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. David G. Grant
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Floyd Christopher Holsinger.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Holsinger, F.C., Sweeney, A.D., Jantharapattana, K. et al. The Emergence of Endoscopic Head and Neck Surgery. Curr Oncol Rep 12, 216–222 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-010-0097-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-010-0097-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation