The role of transoral robotic surgery, transoral laser microsurgery, and lingual tonsillectomy in the identification of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary origin: a systematic review

BACKGROUND: Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck can present as a cervical metastasis from an unknown primary site. Recently, transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) have been incorporated in the workup of unknown primary tumors. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, and CINAHL from inception to June 2015 for all English-language studies that utilized TORS, TLM, or lingual tonsillectomy in the approach to an unknown primary. RESULTS: Of 217 identified studies, eight were reviewed. TORS/TLM identified the primary tumor in 111/139 (80 %) patients overall, and 36/54 (67 %) patients with no remarkable findings following physical exam, radiologic imaging, and panendoscopy with directed biopsies. Lingual tonsillectomy identified the primary tumor in 18/25 (72 %) patients with no findings. Hemorrhage (5 %) was the most common perioperative complication. CONCLUSION: Lingual tonsillectomy using new approaches such as TORS/TLM may improve the identification of occult primary tumors.