title: Robotic selective neck dissection by a postauricular facelift approach: comparison with conventional neck dissection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of robot-assisted neck dissection by a postauricular facelift approach in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), compared with conventional neck dissection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series with chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  University tertiary care hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty HNSCC patients with clinically node negative necks (cN0) who underwent robot-assisted selective neck dissection (SND) by a postauricular facelift approach (11 patients, 12 necks) or conventional neck dissection (19 patients, 21 necks).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was lower in the robotic group (P = .030). However, the distributions of gender and TNM stage did not differ between the two groups. The robotic SND was completed successfully in all patients. The mean operative time was longer in the robotic group (215 ± 56 min) than the conventional group (144 ± 43 min) (P < .001). The mean numbers of lymph nodes removed were 25.0 ± 7.4 and 28.9 ± 8.2 in the robotic and conventional group, respectively (P = .192), and the number of lymph nodes removed at each level also did not differ between the 2 groups. In addition, there was no significant difference in postoperative complications between the 2 groups, but cosmetic satisfaction was higher in the robot group (P = .002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Robot-assisted SND by a postauricular facelift approach is comparable to conventional neck dissection in selected patients with cN0 HNSCC and results in excellent postoperative cosmesis.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Kyung
authors: K
authors: Tae
authors: Yong Bae
authors: YB
authors: Ji
authors: Chang Myeon
authors: CM
authors: Song
authors: Jin Hyeok
authors: JH
authors: Jeong
authors: Seok Hyun
authors: SH
authors: Cho
authors: Seung Hwan
authors: SH
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000517:prevention & control; D054644:Ear Auricle; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015361:Rhytidoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: endoscopic neck surgery; facelift approach; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; robotic neck dissection; scarless surgery