Head and Neck Cancers

The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSCCC – James) is dedicated to transforming the latest discoveries into effective minimally invasive treatments for patients with head and neck cancers. As a leader in the field of translational research and groundbreaking therapies, Ohio State successfully pioneered robotic-assisted head and neck surgery on cancerous tumors and benign lesions.

Our multidisciplinary team, equipped with unmatched robotic experience, is paving the road for excellent patient outcomes and improved quality of life. Robotic surgery is a technological breakthrough that is replacing traditional open surgery as the standard approach for head and neck surgeries. Led by Enver Ozer, MD, Ohio’s most experienced robotic head and neck surgeon, our team of surgeons performs minimally invasive robotic surgeries on the tonsils, base of the tongue, voice box, skull base and thyroid.

Using revolutionary robotic procedures, Ohio State is leading the way in setting new standards for head and neck surgeries.

Head and Neck Cancer Procedures

Ohio State is one of only a few institutions performing transoral robotic surgery (TORS), an alternative to chemoradiotherapy and traditional open surgery for patients with head and neck cancer. TORS is a minimally invasive surgery that eliminates the need for open surgery’s long incisions through the throat and jaw, which often leave patients with visible scars, difficulty breathing or swallowing following surgery, and a lengthy recovery.

As one of the highest volume programs, over the past five years our surgical team has performed more than 200 robotic surgeries to remove:

• Tongue-based cancers
• Tonsil cancers
• Top portion of the voice box cancers
• Recurrent nasopharyngeal tumors
• Skull-based tumors

Transoral robotic surgery is on its way to becoming the standard surgical approach for head and neck cancers. TORS helps reduce the impact of treatment on their lives with results that include:

• Shorter surgery, 24 minutes on average, versus three to four hours for open surgery
• Shorter hospital stay, typically one night
• Less blood loss, pain and scarring
• Fewer tracheotomies and stomach tubes needed
• Faster recovery and return to normal speech and swallowing

The revolutionary procedure involves a small hidden incision in the armpit that allows the surgeon to make a tunnel under the skin to the thyroid area. The surgeon removes the diseased thyroid through the tunnel. Patients are typically discharged from the hospital in one to three days. Ohio State is in an elite group of only 35 medical centers nationwide offering robotic thyroidectomies.

Head and Neck Cancer Research

Research is vital to advancing the reach of robotic surgery. As a national leader in the field, it’s why we’re invested in participating in clinical trials to continually develop new procedures and improve current techniques so we can give patients access to the best treatment possible. Surgeons are leading a pioneering clinical trial studying the use of TORS for oral and laryngopharyngeal benign and malignant lesions, and published the first report on the use of TORS for nasopharyngeal lesions. In addition, we’re involved in ongoing research studying clinical and quality of life outcomes for patients undergoing TORS. We are also part of research and have published findings on the use of TORS for:

• Lingual tonsillectomies
• Nasopharyngeal lesions
• Supraglottic laryngectomies
• Managing upper aerodigestive tract tumors

"Patients have improved quality of life outcomes through this surgery." -- Enver Ozer, MD, Associate Clinical Professor