Larynx cancer is the most common head and neck cancer worldwide and about 12,000 new cases of laryngeal cancer are reported every year in the US alone. While advanced stages of this throat cancer can lead to stridor and dysphagia, this is a head and neck cancer with a reasonably good prognosis, especially if detected in the early stages.
Larynx Cancer Risk Factors
While the exact cause of laryngeal cancer is not known, several risk factors for this malignancy have been identified. They are:
- smoking
- alcohol
- family history
- occupation – asbestos exposure
Smoking seems to be the most important risk factor as with most other aero-digestive tract cancers. Smoke from cigarettes contains carcinogens or substances that cause uncontrolled cell proliferation or cancer.
Smoking and alcohol appear to have a synergistic or additive effect. Cancer of the larynx is more common in males and usually occurs in the sixth or seventh decade.
Larynx Cancer Symptoms
In the initial stages, cancer of the larynx causes symptoms like hoarseness of voice that can be mistaken for a sore throat or laryngitis. As the disease progresses, the voice worsens and the patient may develop other symptoms like:
- dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing
- ear pain
- blood in the sputum
- difficulty in breathing or even stridor, in advanced cases
- halitosis or bad breath
- neck swelling with spread to lymph nodes
- weight loss
Diagnosing Cancer of the Larynx
Larynx cancer can be diagnosed by an ENT surgeon through history and clinical examination. A diagnostic outpatient procedure called indirect laryngoscopy, where the doctor inserts a warm mirror with a long handle into the throat, helps visualize the larynx and the vocal cords and any tumor growing in the region.
Another method is to pass a flexible endoscope through the nose and inspect the larynx for any lesions. Most cases can be clinically diagnosed with these tests.
Investigations like CT scan, direct laryngoscopy under general anesthesia, biopsy and needle aspiration of the neck swelling help confirm the diagnosis and plan treatment.
Larynx Cancer – Treatment and Prognosis
Laryngeal cancer is staged depending on its size, sites involved and its spread to lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body. Early lesions, limited in size and without spread, have the best prognosis.
The treatment options available for laryngeal cancer are:
- surgery
- endoscopy and laser ablation
- radiotherapy
Early stage cancers of the larynx may be treated with carbondioxide laser surgery. They also respond well to radiotherapy. Both these modalities of treatment preserve voice and other functions of the larynx.
For larger tumors, the patient may have to undergo laryngectomy, surgical removal of the larynx, the extent of resection depending on the sites involved. Since the larynx is the organ that facilitates speech and respiration, its removal entails a permanent tracheostomy for breathing and rehabilitation for speech and swallowing are necessary.
Very advanced cases of laryngeal cancer may be treated with a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Larynx cancer or throat cancer, if diagnosed and treated early, is one of the head and neck cancers with very good prognosis.
Related Articles:
Larynx cancer or sore throat: Signs and symptoms of laryngeal cancer
Tests for larynx cancer: Diagnostic tests used in diagnosis and staging of laryngeal cancer
Sources:
Gleeson, Michael J. "Scott-Brown's Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery" (Oxford University Press; 7 edition, 2008)
Lakshmi Ananth - Lakshmi Ananth is a practising ENT, head and neck surgeon and has faculty position at a medical college. She is specially interested in ...
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