Tips and Tricks in Transoral Robotic Surgery for Challenging Vascular Tumors

Surgical removal of head-neck vascular neoplasms may have severe complications, although surgery remains a very important treatment modality. One of the most important aspects is to avoid the rupture of the tumor's capsule and to minimize functional complications, especially in the excision of benign tumors. The transoral robotic surgery allows removing lesions in challenging anatomical areas. Furthermore, the current robotic instrumentation does not allow a fine dissection of the structures and capsule rupture is a potential event. Here, the authors describe a minimally invasive technique using transoral robotic surgery for removal of vascular tumors in head-neck. Particular attention was given to the description of the diagnostic work up, the preoperative assessment and the surgical steps. No complications were encountered postoperatively. Transoral robotic surgery for vascular tumors appears to be a safe and feasible technique with minimal complications.