Transoral robotic surgery for recurrent cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract-Systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for recurrent head and neck (H&N) cancer is an emerging but relatively infrequent procedure.

Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting survival data and functional outcomes for patients undergoing TORS for previously treated H&N cancers.

Results: Eight hundred seventy-eight records were identified, of which eight were eligible for inclusion, covering 161 cases (range 1-64). The pooled rates were as follows: 2-year overall survival 73.8% (4 studies, range 70.6-75.0, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 65.4 to 81.5, [I² 0.0%, P = 1.0]); 2-year disease-free survival 74.8% (4 studies, range 56.2-92.0, 95% CI 63.3 to 84.8, [I² 36.9%, P = .2]); postoperative hemorrhage 9.3% (4 studies, range 3.3-13.3, 95% CI 4.7 to 15.1, [I² 0.0%, P = .5]).

Conclusions: Functional and oncological outcomes are favorable, although the follow-up is limited in the literature. Larger cohorts with longer follow-up are needed for definitive conclusions to be drawn.