Intraoral midline mandibulotomy to improve access for transoral robotic surgery (TORS) base of tongue resection in a retrognathic and microstomic patient

A 74-year-old man was referred to a tertiary academic otolaryngology clinic for evaluation of a left-sided neck mass with unknown primary. Nuclear imaging modalities revealed a primary cancer located at the left tongue base. Further investigation revealed the tumour to be a p16 positive squamous cell cancer with metastatic spread to cervical lymph nodes of multiple levels. The patient was found on initial investigation to have microstomia and a retrognathic mandible, which are typically considered unsuitable for robotic surgery due to difficulties obtaining adequate exposure.The patient underwent bilateral neck dissection, followed by transoral robotic-assisted left base of tongue resection. A midline intraoral mandibulotomy was performed to improve robotic access. Following tumour resection, the mandible was repaired using open reduction with internal plate fixation. Postoperative occlusion was maintained, and the patient recovered well from mandibulotomy with none of the morbidity or cosmetic defects associated with a traditional lip-split approach.