Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the characteristics and clinical efficacy of transoral endoscopy-assisted low-temperature plasma surgery for the treatment of oropharyngeal malignant tumours. METHODS: The clinical data of 14 patients who underwent transoral endoscopy-assisted low-temperature plasma resection of oropharyngeal malignant tumours in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery from January 2017 to October 2024 were retrospectively analysed. The general characteristics, clinical pathology results, surgical methods, operative time, volume of blood loss, length of hospitalization, and follow-up status of the patients were analysed. RESULTS: The 14 patients included 13 males and 1 female, and the average age was 60 ± 9 years. Three patients received flaps for wound repair (1 forearm flap, 1 platysma myocutaneous flap, and 1 submental flap), 6 patients underwent unilateral neck lymph node dissection, 5 patients underwent bilateral neck lymph node dissection, and 1 patient underwent preventive tracheotomy. The average duration of the operations was 231 ± 114 min, and the average duration of tumour resection was 53 ± 15 min. The average volume of blood loss was 66 ± 55 ml, and the average duration of hospitalization was 10 ± 5 days. Postoperative pathology confirmed that 13 patients had squamous cell carcinoma, and 1 patient had mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The average duration of postoperative follow-up was 20 ± 14 months. One patient developed multisystem metastases, and one patient experienced tumour recurrence. all other patients survived well. CONCLUSIONS: Transoral surgery has become more common as a minimally invasive approach for treating oropharyngeal tumours. Transoral endoscopy-assisted low-temperature plasma-assisted resection of oropharyngeal malignant tumours may be used as a surgical approach.