Transoral Videolaryngoscopic Surgery (TOVS)

Abstract

Transoral videolaryngoscopic surgery (TOVS) for laryngopharyngeal cancer developed by Shiotani et al., uses the laparoscopic surgical system and distending laryngoscope. This method enables precise procedures and en bloc resection under a good view with videoendoscope in the structurally complex laryngopharynx. The major indications are Tis-2, and selected T3 lesions of hypopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and supraglottic laryngeal cancer. TOVS is also considered for resectable rT1 and rT2 radiation failure cases and selected T3–4 advanced cases following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients with resectable lymph node metastases are treated by neck dissection. Major contraindications are cricoarytenoid joint fixation, circumferential invasion of more than half, bilateral arytenoid invasion, and invasion to the thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage, hyoid bone, deep pharyngeal constrictor muscle. Oncological outcomes are good in long-term survival and larynx preservation rates with sparing radiation in half of the patients. However, advanced T stage and N3 cases showed a worse prognosis. Regarding functional outcome, swallowing function can maintain in most patients. Postoperative voice impairment can occur after wound healing. TOVS has some advantages particularly for hypopharyngeal cancer, in maneuver with smaller diameter instruments and tactile sense, and in less invasiveness without a tracheostomy, compared to other transoral surgeries.