Is robotic surgery overused in oropharyngeal cancer?
Bleeding risk may be underestimated, researchers say
19th August 2019
By Clare Pain
A world-first trial comparing radiotherapy with robotic surgery for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma has concluded that radiotherapy may have the edge when it comes to post-op swallowing scores.
The randomised controlled trial in 68 patients, including two from the Royal Adelaide Hospital, goes against earlier observational studies favouring transoral robotic surgery plus neck dissection over radiotherapy.
It has also raised concerns that bleeding risk using transoral robotic surgery may be underrecognised, after one patient died