title: Transoral robotic surgery for oropharyngeal carcinoma and its impact on patient-reported quality of life and function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life of patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma after transoral robotic surgery (TORS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Short Form (SF)-8 and Performance Status Scale (PSS) questionnaires were completed prior to surgery, 6 and 12 months of follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 38 patients treated with TORS followed by adjuvant therapy as indicated were prospectively enrolled. For PSS Eating and Diet domains, significant decreases occurred at 6 months (p ≤ .001 and p ≤ .001, respectively) but not at 12 months. Significant declines in PSS Speech were seen at 6 and 12 months (p ≤ .001 and p ≤ .001). There were no significant declines in the SF-8 domains, except for Bodily Pain and Global Health (6 months). Significantly higher PSS Eating and Diet scores were seen at 6 months for TORS alone compared with TORS and chemoradiation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combination TORS and adjuvant therapy caused a temporary decrease in several domains at 6 months, returning to baseline including swallowing function in all patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando Danelon
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Leonhardt
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Quon
authors.forename: Marcio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abrahão
authors.forename: Bert W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: O'Malley
authors.forename: Gregory S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Weinstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000517:prevention & control