This article is about minimal invasive transoral resection particularly in the head and neck region. Head and neck cancer accounts for about five percent in the US, the most common cell type are squamous cell carcinoma. This type of cell manifest usually on the mucosal surfaces of the larynx, pharynx or known as the oral cavity. Although an endoscope can reach this part of the neck only the primary tumor can be treated, for smaller tumors the endoscope is reduced as a diagnostic tool.

Although there have been advancement in the field of cancer treatment, surgery is still the foremost option for treatment of cancer. Open operations is commonly practiced and is well established even though effects can be devastating to the patients health. Such as the scenario of; if the surgeon limits the removal of the tumor so that the voice or the nasal breathing will not be affected it may increase the risk of reoccurrence, or if a more extensive operating area is done to the neck it may affect the voice or the nasal, which both requires extensive and expensive treatment.

In this article minimal invasive treatment is recommended in the treatment of cancer particularly in the head and neck area. Entry of the probe for minimal invasive treatment is thru the mouth and with special open distendable laryngoscopes which exposes the cancer and maintain a visible contact throughout the operation. A CO2 laser cutting beam directed with a micromanipulator attached to a surgical articulating microscope. A “special” laryngeal grasping forceps is then used to position the tumor. For easier treatment the tumor is divided into smaller units using a laser beam, wherein each of those units is exposed and removed using laser. To ensure safety for the surrounding unaffected tissue a safety zone is set depending on the size and position of the tumor. The advantage of this type of surgery is that no attempt to close the wound or introduce a flap is need for no such procedure was undertaken before the operation.

What is the advantage of microsurgery over open surgery? The article elaborates, wherein the tumors in the head and neck never grow as a homogeneous sphere and that they follow the surrounding micro anatomy. For this type of procedure an articulating microscope is always needed. The article further states, microscopes, or articulating microscopes provide a new and improve way of viewing invasive interaction between each individual tumor and its surroundings. An articulating microscope has the ability to position in an instant without the need of moving the base. And most articulating microscope has the provision for video display and recording (through a computer) of the surgery. This ability of an articulating microscope gives not only the surgeon but also the assistant an advantage of improving the viewing of the affected area, exposure of the procedure, such as proper suction and the operation itself.

The article also contain on the role of minimal invasive transoral surgery, and further development and findings on how it may make a difference in the field of cancer treatment. Continue research on this page