Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS)

Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is an advanced and minimally invasive method for removing tumors of the throat, tongue and pharyngeal wall in patients where there is limited involvement of the lymph nodes. It is also used by surgeons who are leaders in the field of sleep surgery for purposes of curing obstructive sleep apnea. In tumor removal, the surgeon employs a robotic-guided endoscope with a tiny camera at the end to locate and remove a tumor through the mouth. This avoids the need to make a significant incision on the neck or jaw. When a tumor that is completely localized is removed this way, the patient can have less need for follow-up treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy and may have a significantly shorter recovery time along with fewer postoperative complications than possible with traditional surgery.