Robotic Surgery: Which Cancers Use It Most? (2026 Update)

Robotic surgery is particularly common for thyroid cancer and prostate cancer, and it is also chosen for rectal cancer located deep in the pelvis among colorectal cancers, as well as for gastric cancer, gynecologic cancers, and kidney cancer when the cancer stage and tumor location are suitable—it is a minimally invasive surgical method.

Key Summary

• Robotic surgery is a laparoscopic-type procedure in which small incisions are made in the abdomen or neck, instruments are inserted, and the surgeon operates them while viewing a 3D screen from a console to remove the tumor.
• Robotic surgery is commonly used for thyroid cancer and prostate cancer, and it offers particular advantages for rectal cancer—colorectal cancer located deep in the pelvis.
• It is also used for gastric cancer, gynecologic cancers, and kidney cancer, selected when tumor location and stage meet the appropriate conditions.
• For stage 4 cancer that has already spread to multiple organs, surgery is generally not the primary treatment; systemic drug therapy comes first (as a general principle).
• Korea has high surgical volumes for gastric, colorectal, thyroid, and prostate cancers, so the pathway from testing to discharge is well standardized.

Which cancers commonly use robotic surgery?

• Robotic surgery is common for thyroid cancer and prostate cancer, and among colorectal cancers, it offers particular advantages for rectal cancer located deep in the pelvis. It is also used for gynecologic cancers and kidney cancer.
• In narrow spaces close to nerves—such as deep in the pelvis or in the neck—the technical advantages of robotic surgery matter more: instrument tips can bend at wider angles than a human wrist, hand tremor is automatically filtered out, and the view is three-dimensional.
• For prostate cancer, operating with nerve preservation in the narrow pelvic space is known to be advantageous for recovery of urinary continence and erectile function, and robotic radical prostatectomy is widely used for localized prostate cancer requiring surgery.
• For thyroid cancer, robotic/endoscopic resection approached through the armpit, around the areola, or through the mouth can avoid leaving a scar on the neck, provided tumor size, location, and lymph node spread meet the criteria.

Is robotic surgery always necessary for gastric or colorectal cancer?

• Not necessarily. Many gastric and colorectal surgeries can be adequately performed laparoscopically, and robotic surgery is chosen when especially precise manipulation is needed—it is not a method required for everyone.
• For gastric cancer that has invaded beyond the muscle layer, gastrectomy is the standard treatment, performed by one of three methods: open, laparoscopic, or robotic. If the tumor is in the lower stomach, subtotal gastrectomy is performed; if it is in the upper stomach or spans a wide area, total gastrectomy is performed, along with removal of surrounding lymph nodes.
• For colorectal cancer, colon cancer is mostly resected laparoscopically, while rectal cancer—when the pelvis is narrow or the tumor is close to the anus and precise manipulation is needed—benefits significantly from robotic resection.
• For early-stage gastric or colorectal cancer confined to the mucosa, if criteria for size, differentiation grade, and absence of ulceration are met, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) alone may complete treatment, potentially eliminating the need for surgery altogether.

How do the three surgical methods differ?

• Endoscopic resection, laparoscopic surgery, and robotic surgery are all minimally invasive approaches aimed at 'smaller incisions, less pain, faster recovery,' and which one is used is determined by cancer stage and tumor location.
• Step 1, endoscopic resection — only early-stage cancer confined to the mucosa is lifted and removed endoscopically, leaving no incision on the body.
• Step 2, laparoscopic surgery — several 0.5–1.2cm holes are made in the abdomen, and a camera with long instruments removes part of the organ along with lymph nodes; an additional small incision is needed to extract the tissue.
• Step 3, robotic surgery — the incisions are the same as laparoscopic surgery, but the instruments are moved by controls at the console, hand tremor is filtered out, and the 3D view makes it easier to operate in narrow, deep spaces.
• Compared with open surgery, minimally invasive surgery generally involves smaller wounds and shorter pain and hospital stay (National Cancer Information Center).

FAQ — Is robotic surgery always better than laparoscopic surgery?

It depends on the organ and stage. Robotic surgery has significant advantages in the narrow pelvis (prostate, rectum) and in the thyroid, but many gastric and colorectal surgeries are adequately handled laparoscopically. There is also a cost difference, so it is common to compare the two methods together.

FAQ — How long is recovery and hospitalization after robotic surgery?

Hospital stays are shorter for endoscopic resection, at about 2–4 days, while laparoscopic and robotic resections typically require about 5–10 days. Robotic prostate surgery usually involves a 5–7 day stay, and thyroid surgery usually involves a 2–3 day stay. Common discomforts include wound pain, a bloated gas sensation, and adjusting to eating in the first few days; rarely, complications such as bleeding, infection, or anastomotic leak can occur, which are monitored during hospitalization.

Sources and Notes

This article was prepared based on the National Cancer Information Center, National Cancer Center Korea, NCCN patient guidelines, and National Cancer Registry Statistics 2019–2023. This content is intended to provide general medical information, and actual diagnosis, treatment methods, and outcomes may vary depending on individual condition. Accurate diagnosis and treatment should always be determined through consultation with a medical professional.