title: Comparison of oncologic and functional outcomes after transoral robotic lateral oropharyngectomy versus conventional surgery for T1 to T3 tonsillar cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We performed transoral robotic surgery (TORS) or conventional surgery via a transoral or mandibulotomy approach in patients with tonsillar cancer and prospectively analyzed the oncologic outcomes and functional recovery of the 3 groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between May 2008 and October 2011, 57 patients were enrolled in this prospective study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although there was no significant difference in the survival rate of the TORS group (100%) and the conventional surgery group (96.7%), a higher rate of margin negativity was observed in the TORS group, especially in cases in which the tumor extends inferiorly. Patients who received TORS or conventional transoral procedures showed more rapid recovery of swallowing, shorter hospitalization, and shorter operation time than the mandibulotomy group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the weakness of this nonrandomized trial and the differences in T classification, TORS seemed to have distinct advantages over conventional transoral surgery and other conventional open surgery, but further studies are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sei Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyung Kwon
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Byeon
authors.forename: Eun Chang
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Se-Heon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D003679:Deglutition; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000601:surgery*; D061646:Operative Time; D010611:Pharyngectomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014067:Tonsillar Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: conventional surgery; tonsillar cancer; transoral lateral oropharyngectomy; transoral robotic surgery