Role of Transoral Robotic Surgery in the Work-up of the Unknown Primary

Unknown primary squamous cell carcinoma metastatic to cervical lymph nodes is a relatively rare tumor presentation, although the incidence may be increasing along with the rising incidence of human papilloma virus-mediated oropharyngeal cancers. Traditional diagnostic methods with palatine tonsillectomy and panendoscopy may identify the minority of primary tumors. The addition of a transoral lingual tonsillectomy may improve the diagnostic yield of identifying a primary tumor. Incorporation of transoral robotic surgery may be used for diagnostic purposes to identify a primary site and also for therapeutic purposes, whereby a primary tumor may be completely resected and combined with a neck dissection.