In this Article

• What is the larynx?
• What is cancer?
• Who is at risk for larynx cancer?
• What are symptoms of larynx cancer?
• How is larynx cancer diagnosed?
• What are treatment options for larynx cancer?
• Methods of treatment
• What are the side effects of treatment for larynx cancer?
• What is involved in rehabilitation after surgery for larynx cancer?
• What happens after treatment for larynx cancer?
• What support is available for patients with larynx cancer?
• What resources are available to patients with larynx cancer and their families?
• Larynx Cancer At A Glance
• Larynx Cancer Glossary
• Larynx Cancer Index

Symptoms

The symptoms of cancer of the larynx depend mainly on the size of the tumor and where it is in the larynx. 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 your throat
• A cough that does not go away
• Problems breathing
• Bad breath
• An earache
• Weight loss

These symptoms may be caused by cancer or by other, less serious problems. Only a doctor can tell for sure.

Diagnosis

If you have symptoms of cancer of the larynx, the doctor may do some or all of the following exams:

• Physical exam. The doctor will feel your neck and check your thyroid, larynx, and lymph nodes for abnormal lumps or swelling. To see your throat, the doctor may press down on your tongue.
• Indirect laryngoscopy. The doctor looks down your throat using a small, long-handled mirror to check for abnormal areas and to see if your vocal cords move as they should. This test does not hurt. The doctor may spray a local anesthesia in your throat to keep you from gagging. This exam is done in the doctor's office.
• Direct laryngoscopy. The doctor inserts a thin, lighted tube called a laryngoscope through your nose or mouth. As the tube goes down your throat, the doctor can look at areas that cannot be seen with a mirror. A local anesthetic eases discomfort and prevents gagging. You may also receive a mild sedative to help you relax. Sometimes the doctor uses general anesthesia to put a person to sleep. This exam may be done in a doctor's office, an outpatient clinic, or a hospital.
• CT scan. An x-ray machine linked to a computer takes a series of detailed pictures of the neck area. You may receive an injection of a special dye so your larynx shows up clearly in the pictures. From the CT scan, the doctor may see tumors in your larynx or elsewhere in your neck.
• Biopsy. If an exam shows an abnormal area, the doctor may remove a small sample of tissue. Removing tissue to look for cancer cells is called a biopsy. For a biopsy, you receive local or general anesthesia, and the doctor removes tissue samples through a laryngoscope. A pathologist then looks at the tissue under a microscope to check for cancer cells. A biopsy is the only sure way to know if a tumor is cancerous.

From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com

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