An analysis of the value and limits of non-robotic transoral oropharyngectomy for local control of T1-2 squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsillar fossa.

A retrospective series of 111 T1 and 133 T2 (N0: 129; N1: 52; N2: 53; N3: 10). Induction chemotherapy and postoperative radiation therapy were used in 63.5% and 29.5% of cases, respectively. Actuarial analysis of local failure, impact of various variables upon local failure and consequences of local failure upon other oncological events and survival are documented.

The 5-year actuarial local failure estimate was 10.4% and 14.2% for T1 and T2 tumors, respectively. The 5-year actuarial local failure estimate was significantly reduced when resection margins were safe or yielded dysplasia (P=0.008) and when induction chemotherapy achieved complete histologic regression (P=0.013). Salvage treatment achieved a 97.2% and 93.2% overall local control rate in T1 and T2 tumors, respectively. The 5-year actuarial nodal failure estimate was 35.1% in patients with local failure versus 10.8% without (P=0.0001). The 5-year actuarial metachronous second primary estimate was 7% in patients with local failure versus 33.2% without (P=0.016). The impact of local failure on survival (5-year actuarial survival estimate: 67.3% without and 46.4% with local failure) was not significant.

In T1-2 squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsillar fossa, non-robotic transoral oropharyngectomy appeared to be highly effective in terms of local control. The high incidence of head and neck metachronous second primaries further advocates the use of this treatment option in order to reserve radiation therapy to such cases.