A retrospective cohort study involving 158 patients with HPV-positive tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma found that unilateral transoral robotic surgery (TORS) resulted in fewer postoperative complications compared to bilateral surgery. The 139 men and 18 women, with a mean age of 60 years, showed comparable survival rates, with two-year overall survival of 94% for unilateral TORS versus 89% for bilateral TORS. The unilateral approach is deemed safer with less postoperative morbidity, prompting recommendations against routine contralateral tonsillectomy.

Source: JAMA Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery