title: Transoral robotic retropharyngeal node dissection.
abstract: Surgical access to metastases in the retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RPLNs) could be difficult. Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) can be utilized to access RPLNs. The purpose of this study was to describe a TORS approach to RPLN dissection.
  
  
  
  A case series of patients undergoing RPLN dissection by TORS was conducted and compared to matched controls (1:2).
  
  
  
  Twelve patients underwent robotic RPLN dissection. Median age was 63 years (range, 43-73 years). Pathology was oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in 9 patients and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in 3 patients. The feeding tube dependence duration was 12 days (range, 1-46 days) on average. Complications occurred in 8 patients (66%); most commonly, aspiration pneumonitis in 6 patients. In comparison to the matched controls (24), there was no difference in length of stay or feeding tube dependence. Complications were higher in patients with oropharyngeal SCC.
  
  
  
  TORS is feasible for accessing RPLNs. The procedure is well tolerated in patients with PTC; whereas patients with oropharyngeal SCC are at increased risk of complications. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E981-E986, 2016.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Givi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.
authors.forename: Scott H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Troob
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.
authors.forename: Will
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stott
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cordeiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.
authors.forename: Peter E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Neil D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Gross
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods*; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures
keywords: lymph node dissection; oropharynx neoplasm; papillary thyroid cancer; retropharyngeal space; transoral robotic surgery