Ting-Shen Lin

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About

Dr. Ting-Shen Lin is a pioneering head and neck surgeon whose research focuses on expanding the indications for transoral robotic surgery (TORS) in oral cancer patients, particularly those with severe functional limitations. Dr. Lin’s major contribution lies in demonstrating that TORS is both feasible and effective for patients with trismus—a debilitating condition characterized by restricted mouth opening, common among Taiwanese betel quid chewers. In a landmark 2024 study (7 citations), Dr. Lin systematically evaluated surgical outcomes in this challenging population, showing that trismus does not compromise the ability to achieve negative margins or preserve function. A follow-up 2025 study (3 citations) further validated these findings, reporting a remarkable 98.5% negative margin rate and excellent cancer control with no external scars. This work challenges conventional surgical dogma, offering a minimally invasive alternative to open surgery for patients who were previously considered poor candidates for robotic approaches. Dr. Lin’s research has significant clinical impact, directly improving quality of life and survival prospects for a vulnerable patient population, and positions them as a leading voice in the evolution of robotic head and neck oncology.