TransOral Robotic Surgery (TORS) is the world's first minimally invasive robotic surgery technique invented at Penn Medicine to remove benign and malignant tumors of the mouth and throat. Along with performing all of the original research, we were the first medical center in the world to offer TORS in 2005.
In December 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of the da vinci® robotic surgical system to perform TORS for selected malignant lesions of the throat and voice box as well as all benign disease. Since FDA approval has been achieved for TORS, research at Penn has focused on further refinement of these techniques.
Our team has performed more TORS procedures than any other team in the world. The TORS program at Penn is comprised of leading surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and clinicians dedicated to providing superior patient outcomes through the use of robotic-assisted technology.
Conditions Treated with TORS
If you have any of the following conditions, you may be a candidate for TORS:
- Base of tongue cancer
- Head and neck cancer
- Hypopharyngeal cancer
- Laryngeal cancer
- Larynx cancer
- Larynx - benign tumors
- Obstructive sleep apnea/sleep apnea
- Oropharynx cancer/tumors
- Parapharyngeal space tumors
- Pharynx tumors
- Pyriform sinus cancer
- Skull base squamous cell carcinoma
- Supraglottic tumors
- Tongue base squamous cell carcinoma
- Tonsil cancer
- Vallecular cysts
There are many benefits to having a TORS procedure of the mouth or throat. They include:
- Quicker return to normal activity
- Shorter hospitalization
- Reduced risk of long-term swallowing problems that are more commonly seen in chemoradiation or traditional open surgery
- Fewer complications compared to traditional open surgery
- Less scarring than traditional open surgery
- Less risk of infection
- Less risk of blood transfusion when compared to open surgery
- No routine use of tracheostomy during surgery compared to routine use for open surgery
As an international patient, if you are interested in TORS, our team will perform a careful evaluation, review your history and diagnosis, and decide if it is right for you. If so, we will discuss our recommendations and, together with you, develop a detailed treatment plan.
Penn's TransOral Robotic Surgery Program in detail