Robotic Surgery for Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

In the researchers' words

Standard-of-care treatment options for oropharyngeal cancer often result in long-term side effects that interfere with normal quality of life. A minimally-invasive transoral robotic surgery (TORS) approach has been developed to operate on the disease site while affecting the surrounding tissue as little as possible. Researchers think that this approach may help to control the disease and avoid such long-term side effects. The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if minimally-invasive transoral robotic surgery (TORS) can help to control HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer. Transoral means through the mouth. The TORS approach is called the Intuitive Surgical da Vinci Surgical System. Researchers also want to learn if this surgery affects participants' ability to speak and swallow.