ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the use of Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for the purposes of the management of tumours within the oral cavity and oropharynx. TORS technology is being adapted for the use in tongue base reduction surgery to aid in the management of obstructive sleep apnoea. It is often combined with other surgical therapies such as uvulopalatopharyngo- plasty with minimal morbidity and improvements in patient apnoea-hypopnea indicies in selected patients. The surgeon is seated at the operating console and can now perform the surgical tumour extirpation. If a simultaneous neck dissection is to be performed, it can be performed either prior to robotic surgery or after completion of the tumour removal. Approximately 4% of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck will present with metastatic cervical adenopathy without evidence of the primary source. The incidence of oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma has undergone a significant increase throughout the world, with links to the human papilloma virus.
