Transoral robotic surgery for the management of oropharyngeal minor salivary gland tumors

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In this study we report our preliminary experience with the use of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for the management of minor salivary gland malignancies of the oropharynx and outcomes. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of 10 patients followed over a 5-year period at a single tertiary academic medical center. Patient, tumor, clinicopathologic, functional, and oncologic outcomes were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: All cancers treated were either T1 (40%) or T2 (60%). Negative margins were achieved in all patients. Four patients received adjuvant radiation therapy (40%). No patients experienced surgical complications and all had excellent functional outcomes. Mean follow-up was 24 months (range, 2-60 months) with locoregional and distant control achieved in 8 patients (80%) and 9 patients (90%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Minor salivary malignancies of the oropharynx are a surgical disease. Short-term follow-up data demonstrate feasibility, low morbidity, good functional, and oncologic results for TORS management of these malignancies.