{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]],"date-time":"2026-07-30T22:44:53Z","timestamp":1785451493689,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,3]],"date-time":"2025-09-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1756857600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JPM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Recurrences of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) at the base of the tongue (BoT) after primary radiochemotherapy (RT-CHT) are associated with low survival rates, poor functional outcomes, and high morbidity following salvage surgery. Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has emerged as a less invasive alternative to open surgical approaches. This study aims to describe our clinical experience with TORS in patients with BoT SCC recurrence after RT-CHT, focusing on oncological outcomes\u2014relapse-free survival (RFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS)\u2014as well as functional outcomes, particularly swallowing function. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of four patients who underwent salvage TORS for BoT recurrence between September 2013 and September 2014 at a single tertiary referral center. All patients had been previously treated with primary RT-CHT for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas. Oncological events (recurrence, death) and functional endpoints (dietary limitations, MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory [MDADI] scores) were retrieved from medical records. Results: Four patients were included. All achieved unrestricted oral intake by one month post-TORS, showing functional improvement compared to their preoperative status. Three of the four patients remained free of locoregional recurrence during follow-up. No major perioperative complications were reported. Conclusions: In selected patients with BoT SCC recurrence after primary RT-CHT, TORS may offer a viable and less morbid salvage treatment option with favorable early functional outcomes and acceptable oncologic control. Based on both our institutional experience and the supporting literature, we propose selection criteria to guide TORS indication in this clinical setting.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jpm15090419","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,3]],"date-time":"2025-09-03T08:04:15Z","timestamp":1756886655000},"page":"419","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Transoral Robotic Surgery for the Salvage of Primarily Irradiated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinomas Recurring at the Base of the Tongue: A Small Monoinstitutional Series"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-5919-1902","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Samuele","family":"Frasconi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Otolaryngology Division, Sassari University Hospital, viale San Pietro 10, 07100 Sassari, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1830-3731","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Davide","family":"Rizzo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Otolaryngology Division, Sassari University Hospital, viale San Pietro 10, 07100 Sassari, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, Universit\u00e0 degli Studi di Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Roberto","family":"Gallus","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Otolaryngology, Mater Olbia Hospital, 07026 Olbia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nikolaos","family":"Machouchas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Otolaryngology Division, Sassari University Hospital, viale San Pietro 10, 07100 Sassari, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sergio","family":"Cannova","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, Universit\u00e0 degli Studi di Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dan Marian","family":"Fliss","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv 6423906, Israel"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jacopo","family":"Galli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Policlinico Agostino Gemelli, Universit\u00e0 Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6261-2772","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Francesco","family":"Bussu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Otolaryngology Division, Sassari University Hospital, viale San Pietro 10, 07100 Sassari, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, Universit\u00e0 degli Studi di Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"10","article-title":"Cancer Statistics, 2025","volume":"75","author":"Siegel","year":"2025","journal-title":"CA Cancer J. 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