Robotic surgery is particularly useful for procedures in the oropharynx (back of the mouth). The robot which is controlled by the surgeon can be used to remove tumors which would otherwise require large obvious incisions. This improves recovery and minimizes the potential negative affects on functioning such as speech and swallow.

In 2012, It was used in an estimated 200,000 surgeries.
The system is called “da Vinci” in part because of Leonardo da Vinci’s study of human anatomy, eventually led to the design of the first known robot in history.
Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) is a minimally invasive, FDA-approved, FDA-approved, procedure used to remove benign and malignant tumors from the throat, base of tongue, and tonsils, particularly for HPV-related cancers. Using high-definition 3D cameras and precise robotic arms, surgeons access the throat through the mouth, eliminating the need for external incisions or jaw splitting.

A pioneering study at King’s College London has successfully tested a new robotic surgical system for treating head and neck condit

ions, marking a significant step forward in minimally invasive cancer care.

The study, published in the European Archives of Otolaryngology evaluated the Versius Surgical System, developed by UK-based CMR Surgical, for use in transoral robotic surgery (TORS). TORS is a technique that allows surgeons to remove tumors from the throat and mouth through the mouth, avoiding more invasive open surgeries.

Over an eight-month period, a team of experienced surgeons performed 30 robotic procedures—15 for benign conditions and 15 for cancers—using the Versius system. All surgeries were completed successfully without major complications or the need to convert to traditional open surgery.

While the system performed well overall, the study identified areas for improvement. Surgeons noted that some instruments were too bulky.

The research team recommends further multi-centre studies to evaluate the system’s broader applicability and to refine its instrumentation.

Source:

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/kings-surgeons-trial-new-robotic-system-for-throat-cancer-surgery

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00405-024-08564-6

]]> https://headandnecknetwork.com/tors-the-new-robotic-system-for-throat-cancer-surgery/feed/ 0 https://headandnecknetwork.com/sonya-lost-her-tongue-to-cancer-but-found-her-voice-through-ai/ https://headandnecknetwork.com/sonya-lost-her-tongue-to-cancer-but-found-her-voice-through-ai/#respond Mon, 19 May 2025 15:51:22 +0000 https://headandnecknetwork.com/?p=1275 SONYA LOST HER TONGUE TO CANCER, BUT FOUND HER VOICE THROUGH AI

Sonya Sotinsky on March 25, 2025, was diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer and underwent surgery to remove her tongue, larynx and other structures. She then worked with researchers to create an AI-generated voice box using past recordings of her speech. 

She recorded herself saying the things she would never again be able to say.

“I’m proud of you,” “happy birthday” and “I love you” topped the phrases she banked for her husband and two daughters.

“When you can’t use your voice, it is very, very frustrating” Sotinsky typed into a wireless keyboard she now carries everywhere.

Pervasive mouth cancer propelled Sotinsky to explore the existential importance of the human voice. Her unique intonation, cadence and slight New Jersey accent were fingerprints of her identity. How we speak is how we express ourselves, connect with others and make sense of the world.

“She got her sass back,” said Sotinsky’s daughter. “When we heard her AI voice, we all cried, my sister, my dad and I. It’s crazy similar.”

A mouthwash-based test to detect biomarkers can help physicians to predict disease recurrence in head and neck cancer patients.

A new study by researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and UC San Diego Health, published in the peer-reviewed journal JAMA Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, could improve how physicians predict and detect recurrence with these cancers.

The study suggests biomarker detection in saliva collected from an oral rinse after initial treatment offers potential to readily assess recurrence risk.

The researchers found a link with two key biomarkers – CD44, a tumor-initiating molecule, and total protein levels.
In this new study, theu studied whether those two biomarkers could predict recurrence in already-diagnosed patients. Their clinical trial evaluated the effects of CD44 and total protein levels in 160-plus patients across multiple cancer centers. Patients were provided oral-rinse samples for use up to 18 months after their initial treatment.

Compared to patients with normal protein levels three months after treatment, patients with about twice as much total protein had an estimated 65% greater risk of recurrence. Patients with CD44 levels that were triple the normal level had an estimated 62% percent greater recurrence risk.

Biomarkers show great promise for refining risk prediction in patients with head and neck cancers. Better risk prediction, in turn, has the potential to save lives by reducing the need for harsh, invasive treatments.

Source: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

MEDULLOBLASTOMA, A NEW DRUG, CT-179, CAN TARGET CANCER STEM CELLS

Brain cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death in children.

In 2020, Japan became the first country to use boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT)

BNCT, like many other radiotherapy options, directs radiation into the body to kill cancer cells, but uses less intense beams than traditional radiotherapy.

The technology of BNCT uses a targeted interaction between the boron in the tumor and the neutrons in the beam that releases strong radiation locally, minimizing damage to healthy tissue and it is used for the treatment of unresectable advanced or recurrent head and neck tumours.

Koji Ono, director of the Kansai BNCT Medical Center at Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, explains that standard treatments, such as chemotherapy, other radiotherapies or targeted pharmaceuticals, are still the first choice for head and neck cancer, however, BNCT is now available for more intractable cases.

Across Japan, more than 500 patients with head and neck cancers have been treated using the technology so far, and the numbers of patients are increasing each year.

BNCT uses a method that does less damage to tissue on its way to the target tumour cells. To do this, patients are given a boron-containing drug designed to accumulate in tumour cells. Shortly after, doctors release a stream of low-energy neutrons using a compact particle accelerator, irradiating the now boron-heavy tumour tissue.

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-023-00448-3