“…Any tumour causing pain, affecting normal function or which is ulcerated/bleeding can be treated with palliative surgery. Examples include soft tissue sarcomas or mast cell tumours in locations where margins are not achievable or curative intent surgery has been declined, and oral tumours such as melanoma (Verstraete 2005, Waltman and others 2007, Kramer and others 2008, Liptak and others 2008a, b, Morello and others 2008, Stefanello and others 2008, Stratmann and others 2008, Borrego and others 2009, Farese and others 2009, Mayer and others 2009, Arzi and Verstraete 2010, Nelissen and White 2012, Tuohy and others 2012, 2014, Bray and others 2014, Cameron and others 2015, Garneau and others 2015, Matz 2015, Wendelburg and others 2015) (Figs 1 to 3). Thorascopic procedures may allow for faster postoperative recovery (Mayhew and Friedberg 2008, Peláez and others 2008, Naan and others 2013, Ployart and others 2013, Shaver and others 2015).…”