Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

David Laugharne is a head and neck surgeon whose work centers on advancing transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for the treatment of oropharyngeal and unknown primary cancers. His major contributions lie in refining TORS techniques to improve both oncologic and functional outcomes. In his landmark six-year study on TORS tongue base mucosectomy for carcinoma of unknown primary, he demonstrated the procedure’s superiority over traditional panendoscopy for primary tumor detection, a critical advance in a notoriously challenging diagnostic dilemma. His prospective work on revision TORS for early-stage HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma has provided essential guidance on surgical timing and margin control. Laugharne has also systematically evaluated how tumor site within the head and neck affects post-surgical swallowing and speech, offering evidence that helps tailor surgical approaches to preserve quality of life. While his citation counts are still growing, his research is shaping best practices in robotic head and neck surgery, directly impacting patient care by balancing oncologic safety with functional preservation.