Margin Status and Recurrence in Surgically Treated Patients With HPV+ Oropharyngeal Cancer.

Background: The optimal margins for surgically treated human papilloma virus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) remain undefined. We evaluated the impact of surgical margins on progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with HPV+ OPSCC treated with primary transoral robotic surgery (TORS).

Methods: Patients undergoing primary TORS from May 2012 to December 2021 for intermediate-risk (T1-T2, resected to clear (≥ 3 mm) or close margins (< 3 mm), and N1-N2) HPV+ OPSCC were included.