• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.1-5
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• 2015

The role of transoral robotic surgery in the treatment of upper aerodigestive tract tumor has expanded in recent. Since the approval of the da Vinci system, the number of transoral robotic surgery has increased significantly. The main indications of transoral robotic surgery are tumors of oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynxs. Transoral robotic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical approach that offers surgical access to the laryngopharynx without the morbidity of open surgeries while achieving excellent oncologic and functional outcomes. The appropriate application of transoral robotic surgery is still being investigated and previous studies supports transoral robotic surgery as a viable option in the management of upper aerodigestive tract tumor.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2011

Traditionally, the main strategy of treatment of the head and neck cancer was en bloc resection including adjacent normal tissues through wide incision. However, the procedures may leave severe functional deficit such as swallowing difficulty, aspiration, and wide neck scar. Therefore, many attempts have been made up to minimize these morbidities. Of them, the minimal invasive approach such as transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) and transoral robot surgery (TORS) have been spolighted as a sensible strategy for organ preservation of the head and neck cancer patients. Results of TLM are equivalent to those obtained by conventional surgery, with considerably less morbidity, less hospital time and better postoperative function. Oncologic results of TLM are equivalent to conventional surgery. TORS are safe, feasible, and promising but oncologic safety is not yet verified. This article covers to current application of TLM and TORS, their advantages and limitations, and future direction.