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In hpv-related oral cancer, robotic surgery proves successful, lessinvasive

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Over the past few decades, doctors have noted a surprising trend in cancer of the tonsils and base of the tongue. Though oral cancer previously appeared predominantly in elderly patients with ahistory of tobacco and alcohol use, it\’s increasing in youngerpatients: 30- to 50-year-old nonsmokers with the humanpapillomavirus (HPV). Fortunately, the newer form of cancer tendsto be less aggressive, and the latest approach to treating thetumors can avoid the debilitating consequences of open neck surgeryor extensive radiation. Robotic surgery conducted through patients\’mouths provides excellent results in removing squamous cellcarcinoma at the back of the throat, especially in patients withHPV, a Mayo Clinic study published in the March issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings found. \”We were surprised that the cancer cure results were even betterthan the traditional treatments that we have been doing, but thatis probably almost as much of a matter that these cancers areHPV-mediated for the most part, and they respond much better totreatment,\” says author Eric Moore, M.D., a head and neck surgeonat Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

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\”Importantly, the treatment preservedpatients\’ ability to swallow and their speech performance wasexcellent.\” Dr. Moore and his team followed 66 patients with oropharyngealcancer who underwent transoral robotic surgery with the da Vincirobotic surgical system. Every few months, the patients had imagingstudies, scans and exams to determine if cancer was recurring.After two years, researchers found that patients\’ survival rate wasgreater than 92 percent, as good as rates for some other surgicaland nonsurgical treatments for oropharyngeal cancer. Because traditional surgery techniques to remove throat tumors canbe traumatic, requiring cutting and reconstructing the jawbone,neck and tongue, researchers were also interested in patients\’healing after robotic surgery. \”We found that with transoral robotic surgery 96 percent ofpatients could swallow a normal diet within three weeks oftreatment,\” Dr.

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Moore says. Less than 4 percent required agastrostomy tube, which enables food to bypass the throat. The study provides preliminary data showing the robotic surgery isa viable treatment option, Dr. Moore says.

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Continuing researchinvolving multiple medical centers will investigate transoralrobotic surgery in a larger population of patients withoropharyngeal cancer. Additional References Citations.

ast few decades, doctors have noted a surprising trend in cancer of the tonsils and base o

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