Background: As pediatric head and neck cancer (pHNC) incidence increases, the development of new surgical oncology techniques to reduce morbidity are essential. Intraoperative navigation (iNav) represents the most translatable technology among both the model-comparative and integrative surgical navigation technologies to optimize surgical outcomes. Methods: A scoping review of the literature was performed according to PRISMA guidelines from 1970 to present (February 2025), investigating the use of iNav in cases of pHNC. Patient case details and authors’ perception of iNav’s utility were analyzed. A single-center retrospective case series review (September 2022 to September 2025) of the senior authors’ experience employing iNav in pHNC cases was also performed. Results: The scoping review identified twenty-seven cases of pHNC from sixteen studies that both utilized iNav and met the inclusion criteria. Many of the authors commented favorably on the utility of iNav technology, while concurrently agreeing upon its limitations. The case series review identified five cases of pHNC that met the inclusion criteria. This small case series revealed a 100% R0 resection rate with the use of iNav in four pHNC resections. The fifth case used iNav for biopsy site selection. Conclusions: The results of our scoping review as well as our institutional experience with this technology demonstrate its utility in guiding surgical approach, confirming depth of resection, and navigating marginal assessment. This study was limited by incidental and incomplete reporting of iNav’s clinical application to pHNC; several extensive institutional reports had to be excluded due to insufficiently detailed data linkage. Our review builds upon the existing pediatric surgical literature, anchoring the evidentiary justification for the application of iNav to pediatric head and neck surgery.
背景：随着儿童头颈癌（pHNC）发病率上升，开发新的外科肿瘤学技术以降低并发症发生率至关重要。在模型对比型和整合型手术导航技术中，术中导航（iNav）是优化手术效果最具转化潜力的技术。方法：根据PRISMA指南对1970年至今（2025年2月）的文献进行范围综述，探究iNav在pHNC病例中的应用。分析患者病例详情及作者对iNav实用性的评价，并对资深作者所在机构2022年9月至2025年9月期间应用iNav的pHNC病例进行单中心回顾性病例系列分析。结果：范围综述从16项研究中筛选出27例同时使用iNav且符合纳入标准的pHNC病例。多数作者肯定iNav技术的实用性，同时也指出其局限性。病例系列分析发现5例符合纳入标准的pHNC病例，其中4例在iNav辅助下实现100% R0切除率，第5例使用iNav指导活检部位选择。结论：范围综述结果及本机构应用经验表明，iNav在指导手术入路、确认切除深度及切缘评估方面具有实用价值。本研究受限于iNav在pHNC临床应用报道的偶然性和不完整性，部分大型机构报告因数据关联细节不足被排除。本综述在现有小儿外科文献基础上，为iNav在儿童头颈外科的应用提供了循证依据。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家