title: Trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS) for the treatment of lingual tonsillitis. When conventional therapies fail.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lingual tonsillitis is an underestimated but serious health problem. This paper describes the feasibility and efficacy of the trans-oral robotic surgical approach in cases of lingual tonsillitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  From February 2012 to April 2014, 10 patients affected by lingual tonsillitis resistant to medical treatments underwent transoral robotic lingual tonsillectomy at the authors' Institution.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The surgical robotic procedure was completed in all cases and there was no need to change the operative approach once started. The mean set-up time was 13.2 ± 5.2 min, while mean operating time was 28 ± 12 min. The mean amount of tissue removed was 16.5 ± 13 cm3. No major intra-operative and post-operative complications were registered. After 15.2 ± 12 months of follow-up, no relapses were reported and patients did not complain of any further symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lingual tonsillitis seems to be safely and effectively managed by trans-oral robotic surgery. The data are encouraging and worthy of further evaluation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head-Neck Surgery, Otolaryngology, Head-Neck and Oral Surgery Unit, Morgagni Pierantoni Hospital, Forlì, Italy.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Montevecchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cammaroto
authors.affiliation: Department of Head-Neck Surgery, Otolaryngology, Head-Neck and Oral Surgery Unit, Morgagni Pierantoni Hospital, Forlì, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meccariello
authors.affiliation: Department of Head-Neck Surgery, Otolaryngology, Head-Neck and Oral Surgery Unit, Morgagni Pierantoni Hospital, Forlì, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Agostino
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck surgery, Shin-Kong Wu-Ho-Su hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ying-Shuo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Galletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Head-Neck Surgery, Otolaryngology, Head-Neck and Oral Surgery Unit, Morgagni Pierantoni Hospital, Forlì, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vicini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057605:Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery / Q000379:methods; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D014059:Tongue / Q000601:surgery; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000601:surgery*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: lingual tonsillitis; robotic surgery; tongue base; tonsillectomy; trans-oral