Laryngeal Cancer

Laryngeal cancer starts in the larynx, often called the voice box. The larynx sits just below the throat and holds the vocal cords. It helps you speak, breathe, and protect your airway when you swallow, so food and liquid go down the right way.

Like other cancers, laryngeal cancer can grow into nearby tissue and, in some cases, spread to other parts of the body.

Types & Stages

Most laryngeal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. These begin in the thin, flat cells that line the surface of the vocal cords and other parts of the larynx.

A few rarer types can also occur:

• Sarcoma, including chondrosarcoma (which starts in cartilage)
• Lymphoma
• Adenocarcinoma
• Neuroendocrine carcinoma
• Plasmacytoma

Laryngeal cancer is not staged with a single simple number. Instead, doctors look at:

• Where in the larynx the cancer started
• How deeply it has grown
• Whether it has reached nearby lymph nodes
• Whether it has spread to other parts of the body

This helps your care team plan the best treatment.

Signs & Symptoms

Early signs of laryngeal cancer can be easy to mistake for a cold or other minor illness. The most common sign is a voice change that does not go away.

Visit a doctor if you are experiencing any of these symptoms:

• Hoarseness or voice changes that last more than 2 weeks
• A sore throat or cough that does not improve
• Pain or trouble swallowing
• A lump in the neck or throat
• Ear pain
• Trouble breathing

Get medical care right away if you have:

• Noisy, high-pitched breathing
• Coughing up blood
• A constant feeling that something is stuck in your throat

Many of these symptoms can be caused by conditions that are not cancer. Still, if a symptom is new, lasting, or worries you, talk with a healthcare provider.

Diagnosis

Tests and procedures used to diagnose laryngeal cancer may include:

• Medical history and exam. Your doctor reviews your symptoms and examines your throat and neck.
   
• Imaging tests. A CT or MRI scan can show the size and location of the tumor. A chest X-ray or PET scan may be used to check whether the cancer has spread.
   
• Laryngoscopy. Your doctor uses a thin, lighted tube to look closely at the larynx.
   
• Biopsy. A small sample of tissue is removed and examined under a microscope by a pathologist. This is the only way to confirm laryngeal cancer.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the size and location of the tumor, whether it has spread, and your overall health. Many people receive more than one type of treatment. Your care team can help explain the benefits and risks of each option.

Treatment may include:

• Surgery. Depending on the tumor, surgery may remove part of a vocal cord, part of the larynx or the entire larynx. The goal is to remove the cancer while preserving speech and swallowing when possible. If the tumor involves the thyroid gland, all or part of the thyroid may also be removed.
   
• Radiation therapy. Radiation uses high-energy beams to kill cancer cells. It may be used alone or after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells.
   
• Other treatments. Chemotherapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy may be used in select cases, especially for more advanced cancer.

Clinical trials may also be an option. These studies test new treatments or new ways to use current ones. Ask your care team whether a clinical trial may be right for you.

Causes & Risk Factors

The exact cause of laryngeal cancer is not always known. Some factors may raise the risk, including:

• Tobacco use. Smoking or using other tobacco products greatly increases the risk.
   
• Alcohol use. Drinking alcohol raises the risk, especially when combined with tobacco.
   
• HPV exposure. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus passed through sexual contact and is linked to some head and neck cancers.
   
• Older age. Laryngeal cancer is more common in people aged 55 and older.
   
• Being male. Men are more likely to develop this cancer.
   
• Prior head and neck cancer. People who have had a head and neck cancer have a higher chance of developing it again.
   
• Workplace exposures. Regular contact with certain substances may raise risk, such as wood dust, asbestos, nickel, sulfuric acid mist, mustard gas, and some machine-related industrial settings.

Having a risk factor does not mean you will develop laryngeal cancer, and some people with the disease have no clear risk factors. Talk with your healthcare provider about your personal risk.

Screening

There is no routine screening test for laryngeal cancer.

Because there is no screening test, it is important to pay attention to your body and report symptoms that do not go away, such as ongoing hoarseness, other voice changes, or a lasting cough. Finding cancer early, when it is easiest to treat, can make a real difference.

If you have symptoms that are new, lasting, or unusual for you, talk with a healthcare provider about whether further evaluation is needed.

This information is for general education only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and guidance based on your personal health history.