title: Feasibility of transoral robotic-assisted high-resolution microendoscopic imaging of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transoral robotic-assisted oncologic surgery of the head and neck offers promising functional results. Nonetheless, the efficacy of oncologic surgery remains critically dependent on obtaining negative margins. We aimed to integrate a miniaturized high-resolution fiber-optic microendoscope (HRME), which provides real-time histological assessment, with the da Vinci robotic system (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Three patients undergoing transoral robotic surgery (TORS) were prospectively enrolled in this study. Optical imaging of the oropharynx was performed intraoperatively with the robotic-assisted HRME.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients underwent the procedure successfully with no complications. The HRME was successfully integrated with the da Vinci robotic system. Several sites of the oropharynx and associated malignancy were imaged, which correlated with the standard histopathological analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transoral robotic-assisted HRME imaging of the oropharynx is a safe and technically feasible approach, providing a real-time histological assessment and may serve as a valuable aid in oncologic surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Head and Neck Cancer Translational Research Program, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patsias
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Head and Neck Cancer Translational Research Program, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Laureano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giraldez-Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Alexandros D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Polydorides
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Richards-Kortum
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Sharmila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anandasabapathy
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Quang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Head and Neck Cancer Translational Research Program, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Andrew G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Sikora
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Head and Neck Cancer Translational Research Program, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Miles
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019723:Endoscopes; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008853:Microscopy / Q000295:instrumentation; D009055:Mouth; D057605:Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012371:Robotics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: high-resolution fiber-optic microendoscope (HRME); microendoscopy; optical imaging; oropharynx; squamous cell carcinoma; transoral robotic surgery