Sievert M, Goncalves M, Zbidat A, et al. - This retrospective study was undertaken to compare transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) vs transoral robotic surgery (TORS), in terms of oncological and functional outcomes, in the treatment of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). This analysis involved all patients with OPSCC managed with TLM (n = 30) or TORS (n = 24) between April 2003 and May 2018 (follow-up 43 ± 38.3 months). In terms of resection status and the rate of local- and distant- recurrence, no significant disparities were evident, and the disease-free survival was estimated to be 86.7 % and 87.5 %, respectively. Concerning operating time, intraoperative blood loss, inpatient stay and postoperative bleeding rate, any differences could not be corroborated. Overall, TORS, relative to TLM, afforded similar oncological outcomes at comparable perioperative risks. There may be a benefit of TORS on postoperative swallowing function.