Comparison of TORS with conventional surgery for oropharyngeal carcinomas in T1–T4 lesions

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Transoral Robotic Simulation (TORS) is an innovative surgical technique indicated for resection of selected head-and-neck cancers. The authors conducted a systematic review discussing the indications, advantages, and disadvantages of this technique. DATA SOURCES: The search included MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, COCHRANE, and bibliographies of relevant studies through January 2006. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Studies included patients treated for T1-T4 stage oropharynx cancer with TORS. Study retrieval and data extraction were conducted in duplicate and resolved by consensus. Treatment specific details, as well as recurrence, survival, and adverse events, were collected. Methodological quality for each study was appraised. RESULTS: Nine studies were included which met the inclusion criteria. Patients receiving TORS required adjuvant radiotherapy (26%) or chemoradiotherapy (41%). Two-year overall survival estimates ranged from 82% to 94% for TORS. CONCLUSION: The minimally invasive transoral robotic simulation (TORS) for the treatment of oropharyngeal cancers is proved to be less time-consuming, compliant to the patients, and having less complications as compared to the more invasive techniques involving conventional surgery although the quality of this evidence is limited.