Transoral robotic surgery for the management of oropharyngeal minor salivary gland tumors

Background In this study we report our preliminary experience with the use of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for the management of minor salivary gland malignancies of the oropharynx and outcomes. Methods This was a retrospective review of 10 patients followed over a 5-year period at a single tertiary academic medical center. Patient, tumor, clinicopathologic, functional, and oncologic outcomes were collected and analyzed. Results All cancers treated were either T1 (40%) or T2 (60%). Negative margins were achieved in all patients. Four patients received adjuvant radiation therapy (40%). No patients experienced surgical complications and all had excellent functional outcomes. Mean follow-up was 24 months (range, 2-60 months) with locoregional and distant control achieved in 8 patients (80%) and 9 patients (90%), respectively. Conclusions Minor salivary malignancies of the oropharynx are a surgical disease. Short-term follow-up data demonstrate feasibility, low morbidity, good functional, and oncologic results for TORS management of these malignancies.