2009 Volume 19 Issue 3 Pages 153-160
Transoral lateral oropharyngectomy (TLO) for T1 to T3 oropharyngeal cancer using FK pharyngoscope, a distending laryngoscope, rigid videoendoscope and electrocautery designed for laparoscopic surgery is reported here. This method was performed for eight patients. The T stages were as follows: T1, one patient; T2, two patients; and T3, five patients. Seven patients underwent neck dissection with TLO and five patients underwent postoperative irradiation without chemotherapy. A tracheostomy was needed for only one patient and no patients underwent reconstructive surgery. One case had a “close to margin” and the others were negative surgical margins. Seven of eight patients were swallowing normal food postoperatively. A high level of safety and certainty were ensured and the indication of TLO has been expanded by establishing a new surgical environment. The postoperative swallowing function was also satisfactory. TLO is one of the useful options of mild invasive surgery for selected lateral oropharyngeal cancer.
