Transoral Robotic Surgery, Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy Offer Comparable Survival Estimates for Early T-Stage Oropharyngeal Cancer

Clinical Question

How do survival estimates for transoral robotic surgery (TORS) compare to intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for early T-stage oropharyngeal cancer?

Background: There have been concerns regarding the effectiveness of TORS as a treatment for early T-stage oropharyngeal carcinoma compared to existing treatment. Newer nonsurgical techniques have improved on traditional three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy by limiting the toxicity burden while offering similar disease control. One challenge in interpreting the literature is the patient heterogeneity reported.

Study design: Retrospective study of 20 cases reported through September 2012, including patients treated for early T-stage oropharynx cancer with TORS or IMRT.