The omission of intentional primary site radiation following transoral robotic surgery in 59 patients: No <scp>local‐regional</scp> failures

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We assessed locoregional control with omission of intentional primary site radiation after transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and quantified nontargeted primary site dose. METHODS: Following Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, patients treated with primary TORS resection for squamous cell carcinomas of the oropharynx were reviewed. Patients with cT1-2 tumors, >2 mm margins, in whom the surgeon resected the primary without revising specimen-driven margins, qualified for omission of primary site radiation. RESULTS: From 2014 to 2019, 112 patients met criteria. Fifty-nine (52%) patients did not receive radiation targeting the primary site; of whom, 22 received no radiation. In this group, there were no local failures; mean age was 58 years and median follow-up was 25 months. Thirty-seven patients received adjuvant radiation targeting the neck, mean bystander dose to the primary site was 28.8 Gy (range, 13.3-50.6 Gy). CONCLUSION: In a 59 patient population, omission of radiation to the primary site after TORS resulted in no locoregional failures.