Robotic surgery for head and neck cancer

During the last decade, robotic surgery has evolved from a novelty to the preferred surgical method for urologic, gynecologic, thoracic, cardiothoracic, and gastrointestinal procedures. The use of robotics in head and neck surgery grew out of the success of other transoral surgical modalities used to remove head and neck tumors. This article reviews the evolution of head and neck surgery, the current capabilities of surgical robots, and anticipated future applications of this technology.