Transoral robotic surgery for oropharyngeal carcinoma and its impact on patient-reported quality of life and function

Background The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life of patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma after transoral robotic surgery (TORS). Methods Short Form (SF)-8 and Performance Status Scale (PSS) questionnaires were completed prior to surgery, 6 and 12 months of follow-up. Results In all, 38 patients treated with TORS followed by adjuvant therapy as indicated were prospectively enrolled. For PSS Eating and Diet domains, significant decreases occurred at 6 months (p ≤.001 and p ≤.001, respectively) but not at 12 months. Significant declines in PSS Speech were seen at 6 and 12 months (p ≤.001 and p ≤.001). There were no significant declines in the SF-8 domains, except for Bodily Pain and Global Health (6 months). Significantly higher PSS Eating and Diet scores were seen at 6 months for TORS alone compared with TORS and chemoradiation. Conclusions Combination TORS and adjuvant therapy caused a temporary decrease in several domains at 6 months, returning to baseline including swallowing function in all patients.