title: Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for excision of a retropharyngeal intramuscular lipoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the feasibility, effectiveness, and improved morbidity profile of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for the excision of a retropharyngeal intramuscular lipoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report of a robot-assisted transoral resection of a retropharyngeal intramuscular lipoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 62-year-old woman presented with tongue pain and globus with dysphagia for six months. Transoral exam revealed a pharyngeal submucosal mass, and MRI demonstrated a prevertebral lipomatous lesion with protrusion into the airway. The patient elected for robot-assisted transoral surgical treatment. The patient tolerated the procedure well, experienced no complications, and was discharged on post-operative day one. At six months post-operatively, the patient was without dysphagia and was disease free on imaging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TORS is an effective, safe, feasible, and likely more efficient way to excise a retropharyngeal intramuscular lipoma or other retropharyngeal masses.
authors.affiliation: Division of Head and Neck Oncologic and Endocrine Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California-San Francisco, United States. Electronic address: chase.heaton@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: Chase M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Heaton
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of California-San Francisco, United States.
authors.forename: Saqib R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Division of Head and Neck Oncologic and Endocrine Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California-San Francisco, United States.
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008067:Lipoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010609:Pharyngeal Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Lipoma; Retropharynx; Robotic surgery; TORS