Tongue Cancer

Research

The head and neck surgery research team in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology is dedicated to developing new treatment options for patients with tongue cancer. Mayo Clinic scientists and researchers from the specialties of head and neck surgery, radiation oncology, hematology/oncology, immunology and molecular medicine collaborate to conduct research seeking to continually improve care for cancer patients.

For the past several years, Mayo Clinic in Minnesota head and neck surgery specialists have worked to improve and adapt existing da Vinci Robotic Surgery Systems for use on tumors of the tongue. Mayo Clinic head and neck surgery researchers have studied the use of transoral robotic surgery on tongue base cancers. Study results confirmed that robotic surgery is safe and effective, and results in fewer complications and a shorter post-surgery recovery period compared to traditional surgery techniques.

Based on the results, transoral robotic surgery has become the surgical technique of choice for Mayo surgeons. Researchers at Mayo Clinic are evaluating the effectiveness of this surgery for treating cancers of the voice box and other regions that are difficult to access through the mouth.

Read more about head and neck surgery research at Mayo Clinic.

Mayo Clinic Publications

See a list of publications by Mayo Clinic doctors on tongue cancer on PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine.