Choosing surgery or radiotherapy for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: is the issue definitely settled?
Mené sur 68 patients atteints d'un carcinome épidermoïde oropharyngé (durée médiane de suivi : 25 ou 29 mois selon le groupe de patients), cet essai international de phase II évalue, par rapport à une radiothérapie, les effets indésirables d'une chirurgie transorale assistée par robot et la qualité de vie liée à la déglutition, un an après la fin du traitement
With the development in the mid-2000s of minimally invasive surgery such as transoral laser microsurgery and transoral robotic surgery (TORS), more and more institutions started to favour the use of surgery for early oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), arguing an alleged faster recovery, a lower incidence of late morbidity (eg, swallowing dysfunction and xerostomia), and a better quality of life in comparison with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). 1
This trend was further increased with the rising prevalence of human papillomavirus-driven OPSCC. 2
However, no randomised controlled study had ever been done to compare the functional outcome and morbidity of radiotherapy and minimally invasive surgery.
The Lancet Oncology , commentaire, 2018