Surgical, Functional, and oncological outcomes of transoral robotic surgery for cT1-T3 supraglottic laryngeal Cancers: A systematic review

Background

This systematic review investigated the surgical, functional, and oncological outcomes of transoral robotic supraglottic laryngectomy (TORS-SGL) for cT1-T3 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).

Methods

Two investigators conducted an updated PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library systematic review for studies investigating the surgical, functional, and oncological outcomes of TORS-SGL using the PRISMA statements. The bias analysis was conducted with the MINORS.

Results

Twenty-one studies were included, accounting for 896 patients. TORS-SGL was primarily performed for cT1 (39.1 %), cT2 (46.9 %), and some selected cT3 (7.7 %) LSCCs. Surgical margins were positive in 10.8 % of cases. The mean hospital stay was 8.6 days. Hemorrhage (6.3 %), pneumonia (5.5 %), and aspiration (1.7 %) are the primary complications. The surgical margins were positive in 10.6 % of cases. Feeding tubes, temporary tracheotomy, and definitive percutaneous gastrostomy are found in 65.6 %, 19.7 %, and 5.2 % of patients, respectively. The oral diet is restarted after a mean of 7.2 days. The 5-year OS and DFS of TORS-SGL were estimated to be 78.3 %, and 91.7 %, with 5-year local-relapse-free survival and nodal-relapse-free survival of 90.8 %, and 86.6 %, respectively.

Conclusion

The TORS-SGL is a safe, and effective surgical approach for cT1-T3 SGL. The functional and surgical outcomes appear comparable with TOLM-SGL. The oncological outcomes of TORS-SGL could be better than TOLM and open SGLs, but further large cohort-controlled studies are needed to draw reliable conclusions.