Laryngeal cancers are mostly squamous-cell carcinomas, reflecting their origin from the epithelium of the larynx.

Cancer can develop in any part of the larynx. The prognosis is affected by the location of the tumour. For the purposes of staging, the larynx is divided into three anatomical regions: the glottis (true vocal cords, anterior and posterior commissures); the supraglottis (epiglottis, arytenoids and aryepiglottic folds, and false cords); and the subglottis.

Most laryngeal cancers originate in the glottis, with supraglottic and subglottic tumours being less frequent.

Signs and Symptoms

The symptoms of laryngeal cancer depend on the size and location of the tumour. Symptoms may include the following:

• Hoarseness or other voice changes
• A lump in the neck
• A sore throat or feeling that something is stuck in the throat
• Persistent cough
• Stridor - a high-pitched wheezing sound indicative of a narrowed or obstructed airway

Risk factors

The most important risk factor for laryngeal cancer is smoking. Death from laryngeal cancer is 20 times more likely for the heaviest smokers than for their non-smoking peers. Heavy chronic consumption of alcohol, particularly alcoholic spirits, is also a significant risk factor. When present in combination, the usages of alcohol and tobacco appear to have a synergistic effect. Other reported risk factors include being of low socioeconomic status, male sex, or age greater than 55 years.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made by the doctor on the basis of a medical history, physical examination, and special investigations which may include a chest x-ray, CT or MRI scans, and tissue biopsy. The examination of the larynx requires some expertise, which may require specialist referral.

The physical exam includes a systematic examination of the whole patient to assess general health and to look for signs of associated conditions and metastatic disease. The neck and supraclavicular fossa are palpated to feel for cervical adenopathy, other masses, and laryngeal crepitus. The oral cavity and oropharynx are examined under direct vision. The larynx may be examined by indirect laryngoscopy using a small angled mirror with a long handle (akin to a dentist's mirror) and a strong light. Indirect laryngoscopy can be highly effective, but requires skill and practice for consistent results. For this reason, many specialist clinics now use fibre-optic nasal endoscopy where a thin and flexible endoscope, inserted through the nostril, is used to clearly visualise the entire pharynx and larynx. Nasal endoscopy is a quick and easy procedure performed in clinic. Local anaesthetic spray may be used

Journal of Cancer Diagnosis is an open access peer-reviewed journal dealing with articles on different aspects of Physical exam, Laboratory tests, Imaging tests, Biopsy, Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Mammogram and breast ultrasound, Biopsy, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Tumour biomarkers, Lung Cancer Diagnosis, Imaging tests, Sputum cytology, Tissue biopsy, Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis, Imaging tests, Blood test, Surgery, Tumour markers, tide specific antigen (TPS), Neuron specific enolase (NSE), Carcino Embryonic antigen (CEA), Liver Cancer Diagnosis, etc.

Our Journal follows Editorial Tracking System for quality in peer review process. Editorial Tracking is an online manuscript submission, review and tracking systems used by most of the best open access journals.

Submit manuscripts at: https://www.scholarscentral.org/submissions/cancer-diagnosis.html

Media Person

Nancy Ella
Journal Manager
Journal of Cancer Diagnosis

Email: cancerdiagn@emedsci.com