PUMCH Reports 20 Single-Port Robotic Operations, Including Tongue-Base Resection and Reconstruction

Peking Union Medical College Hospital reported on August 26, 2026, that its dentistry department had completed its 20th single-port robotic operation. On August 19, deputy department director Zhang Tao’s team performed extended tongue-base tumor resection, cervical lymph node dissection and submental island flap transfer in a 60-year-old woman with mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The department introduced the single-port system in April.

Choosing an approach to a deep tumor

The patient presented with painful swallowing. The tumor lay deep at the tongue base beside important nerves, vessels and pharyngeal muscles. The hospital said a conventional approach could require division of the lower lip and mandible to obtain sufficient exposure, affecting function and quality of life. After assessment, the team used single-port robotic assistance for resection and simultaneous repair without a facial incision.

The system places an endoscope and several robotic arms through one channel, providing transoral or discreet small-incision access to confined spaces. Magnified three-dimensional imaging helps identify deep structures, while articulated instruments allow dissection, incision, hemostasis and suturing. In this case, a submental island flap was transferred to reconstruct the defect.

Reconstruction in 12 of 20 cases

Since April, the department has used the system in selected oropharyngeal, oral cavity, parotid and submandibular tumor operations and flap harvesting. Twelve of the 20 single-port cases included simultaneous flap reconstruction, using buccinator myomucosal, submental island, forearm or anterolateral thigh flaps.

The hospital described reconstruction as covering postoperative defects and protecting critical structures to support recovery of speech and swallowing.

Robotic surgery already in clinical use

Zhang’s team began exploring robotic surgery in 2023. That November it performed what PUMCH described as China’s first transoral oropharyngeal tumor resection with a domestically developed robot, subsequently completing over 40 multi-arm robotic procedures. Single-port clinical use from April 2026 was a later step in this experience.

For the 60-year-old patient, the hospital reported a smooth operation, good recovery and preserved speech and swallowing.