Transoral Robotic Surgery and the Unknown Primary

Abstract

Carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) comprises approximately 1%-5% of all head and neck malignancies. Primary site detection rates for metastatic cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) remain variable, with current diagnostic imaging unable to identify all tumours. Prevailing evidence suggests that most head and neck CUP are located in the oropharynx. Diagnostic surgical efforts have been directed at sampling the entire oropharynx. Present techniques that make this possible include transoral robotic surgery (TORS). TORS Lingual tonsillectomy or tongue base mucosectomy performed in the setting of head and neck CUP increases the detection rate of occult tumour. The indication, surgical technique, evidence base, and controversies of performing TORS in the context of the unknown primary are presented.