Mayo Clinic Minute: Innovative technology to treat head and neck cancers

In the U.S., HPV is linked to about 70% of throat and mouth cancers. And more than 70% of those cancers are diagnosed in men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Treatment for throat and mouth cancers, also referred to as oropharyngeal or head and neck cancers, depends on location and stage of the cancer as well as other factors.

Dr. Phillip Pirgousis, a Mayo Clinic head and neck surgeon, says patients now have safer, less invasive surgical treatments for head and neck cancers available to them thanks to innovative technology.

HPV-related cancer cases are increasing in two specific areas in the throat.

“The tonsils in the back of the throat and the lymph node tissue in the back of the tongue,” Dr. Pirgousis says.

And cancers in these two locations can be a challenge.

“Many of the challenges are often related to the location of the primary tumor because the throat and voice box area are very difficult to get access to,” he says.

That’s where innovation with robotics allows for better tumor visualization, better lighting and better outcomes in terms of complete tumor removal.

“We’re talking about big, open surgeries versus minimally invasive surgeries where we can access these difficult locations with making facial incisions,” he says.

“And having less impact on breathing, speaking, swallowing and communicating. The surgical robot has improved the ability for us to not only completely remove tumors, but to remove them safely,” says Dr. Pirgousis.

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