Transoral Robotic Retropharyngeal Lymph Node Dissection in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma With Retropharyngeal Lymph Node Recurrence

Objectives Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients with retropharyngeal lymph node (RPLN) recurrence typically undergo reirradiation and experience severe radiotoxicity. Salvage open surgery is challenging because gaining access to the retropharyngeal space is complex and risky. Thus, only several centers can perform this procedure, and complications are common. We applied transoral robotic surgery RPLN dissection (TORS‐RPLND) to NPC patients with RPLN recurrence to address the problem with open surgery. Materials and Methods From March 2017 to October 2020, 10 NPC patients with RPLN recurrence underwent TORS‐RPLND using the da Vinci Si/Xi Surgical System. We applied the balloon occlusion test to protect the internal carotid artery, induction chemotherapy to shrink large tumors preoperatively, and ultrasound positioning to effectively locate unrecognizable RPLNs during surgery. Clinical characteristics, complications, and survival outcome data were retrospectively collected. Results Of 10 patients, 8 underwent en bloc resection via TORS‐RPLND, and the remaining 2 patients were converted to open surgery because we failed to identify the RPLN during TORS. After introducing intraoperative ultrasound positioning, no such failure occurred. The mean operative time and intraoperative blood loss were 297 ± 120 min and 40 ± 43 ml, respectively. All surgical margins were negative. TORS‐related complications were mild, and the most severe one was grade 3 dysphagia in one patient who underwent conversion to open surgery (10%). With a median follow‐up of 19 months, only 1 (10%) patient developed cervical recurrence. Conclusions TORS‐RPLND is feasible, safe, and effective in the treatment of NPC patients with RPLN recurrence, especially with the help of intraoperative ultrasound positioning. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 131:E1895–E1902, 2021