JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Baptist Health has unveiled a newer surgical robot used for treating head and neck cancers, and according to a surgeon who is now using this technology, the robot is far less invasive than traditional cancer treatments.
Anyone who has recently undergone robotic abdominal hernia repair surgery is familiar with the number of incisions or ports they had in their abdomen so the surgeon could repair the hernia.
The robot is a Da Vinci multi-port robot, which means multiple incisions are needed to allow the surgeon to run a camera into the abdomen while at the same time running other tools into other incisions to repair the hernia.
A similar robotic tool is now being used at Baptist Health to treat people with head and neck cancer, only it’s a Da Vinci single-port robot. And according to oncology surgeons, it’s less invasive.
Dr. Faisal Ahmad, a head and neck oncology surgeon for Baptist Health, said this newer cancer-treating technology is a game changer.
“It’s a little bit different than the multi-port technology because it’s designed to deploy through a single port or single opening. We found use for it in the head and neck region for cancers that develop in the back of the tongue and tonsils. It allows us to deploy a camera and several working arms into a relatively small space. The camera allows us to look around corners so it’s the next step in robotic surgery design,” Ahmad said. “In the head and neck region, the traditional surgical treatment for tongue or tonsil cancers required splitting the lip and splitting the jaw. That’s fairly invasive. This allows us to perform surgery through an opening of the mouth and it results in less disruption in surrounding tissues.”
According to Ahmad, the use of a single-port robotic system also results in less recovery time.
“It allows for shorter hospitalization, faster recovery times, better functional outcomes after surgery, and with the new class of head and neck cancer related to Human papillomavirus (HPV), in some cases, it can reduce the need for radiation therapy after surgery,” Ahmad said.
Head and neck cancers most often appear in the nasal cavity, sinuses, lips, mouth, salivary glands, thyroid glands, throat, and larynx and account for about 100,000 cancers diagnosed in the U.S. each year, according to oncologists.
Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center has seen a rise in oropharyngeal cancers in our region, which include cancers affecting the palate, throat, base of the tongue, and tonsils.
Experts said the majority of newly diagnosed throat cancers are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection that 80% of the population will be exposed to during their lifetime.
Approximately 70% of oropharyngeal cancers in the U.S. are HPV-related, and more people are being diagnosed with the disease at a younger age.
“We’re seeing a lot more young people with throat cancer. Being able to offer them a minimally invasive surgical alternative is important. Plus, time is a critical factor when it comes to oropharyngeal cancers because a 2 cm tumor can easily double in size in eight weeks. Having a robot specifically for these surgical procedures means we can act quickly and provide earlier interventions, which leads to better outcomes,” Ahmad said.
The single-port robotic technology may not be limited to only head and throat cancers.
“This also has some applications in urology and thoracic surgery as well. The basic idea is you’re using a single incision or single opening and introducing multiple tools through that opening,” Ahmad said.
Every patient diagnosed with head or neck cancer is presented with treatment options which means they can choose whether to undergo robotic surgery, traditional surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.
“The goal is to tailor their cancer treatment plan to the disease state they have and their personal preferences,” Ahmad said, who also added that certain patients may opt for the robotic surgery based on the location and stage of the cancer. “For cancers that occur in the tonsil or the back of the tongue that are in an early stage and causing limited neck disease or lymph node involvement, this is a very good option, and it reduces long-term side effects associated with radiation therapy.”
In some cases, oropharyngeal cancers are preventable. In addition to avoiding or quitting smoking and heavy alcohol use, getting the HPV vaccine can prevent up to 90% of HPV-related cancers, including oropharyngeal cancers. The vaccine is most effective when administered during the pre-teen years (ages 9 to 12 years old) but can be given up to the age of 45.