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Laryngeal cancer

Alternative Name:Cancer of the larynx or Laryngeal carcinoma,Vocal cord cancer; Throat cancer; Laryngeal cancer; Cancer of the glottis

Definition:
The larynx is located in the neck at the top of the windpipe (trachea) and is used when we talk, swallow and breathe. It’s also called the voice box and is made up of cartilage – the large cartilage in the front is often called the Adam’s apple. Inside the larynx are the vocal cords.

The larynx is made up of three main parts:
•Supraglottis – the tissue at the top of the larynx
•Glottis – the middle part of the larynx where the vocal cords are located
•Subglottis – the tissue at the bottom of the larynx that connects the larynx to the windpipe
Laryngeal cancer can develop in any of these parts, but most commonly develops on the vocal cords.
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Most laryngeal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, reflecting their origin from the squamous cells which form the majority of the laryngeal epithelium. Cancer can develop in any part of the larynx, but the cure rate is affected by the location of the tumor. For the purposes of tumour 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. Supraglottic cancers are less common, and subglottic tumours are least frequent.

Laryngeal cancer may spread by direct extension to adjacent structures, by metastasis to regional cervical lymph nodes, or more distantly, through the blood stream. Distant metastates to the lung are most common.
Incidence:

Two in 20,000 (12,500 new cases per year) in the USA. The American Cancer Society estimates that 9,510 men and women (7,700 men and 1,810 women) will be diagnosed with and 3,740 men and women will die of laryngeal cancer in 2006.

Laryngeal cancer is listed as a “rare disease” by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that laryngeal cancer affects fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S.

Each year, about 2,200 people in the U.K. are diagnosed with laryngeal cancer

Symptoms:
Symptoms of laryngeal cancer depend on where the cancer develops. Since it most often develops on the vocal cords, hoarseness or other changes in the voice are common.

Other symptoms that may occur when cancer develops above or below the vocal cords, or if it spreads from the vocal cords, include:

*A persistent sore throat  or feeling that something is stuck in the throat
*Ear pain or Ear ache (“referred”)
*Noisy breathing
*Difficulty swallowing
*Difficulty breathing
*A lump in the neck
*Painful swallowing
*A feeling of a lump in the throat
*A persistent cough
*Hoarseness or other voice changes
*Stridor
*Bad breath

If the cancer spreads outside the larynx, the lymph glands in the neck may become enlarged.

Causes:
The precise causes of laryngeal cancer aren’t known. However, it’s more common:

*On the vocal cords
*In men
*Between the ages of 55 and 65
*In smokers
*In those who drink alcohol heavily

Risk Factors:
Smoking is the most important risk factor for laryngeal cancer. Death from laryngeal cancer is 20 times more likely for heaviest smokers than for nonsmokers.  Heavy chronic consumption of alcohol, particularly alcoholic spirits, is also significant. When combined, these two factors appear to have a synergistic effect. Some other quoted risk factors are likely, in part, to be related to prolonged alcohol and tobacco consumption. These include low socioeconomic status, male sex, and age greater than 55 years.

People with a history of head and neck cancer are known to be at higher risk (about 25%) of developing a second cancer of the head, neck, or lung. This is mainly because in a significant proportion of these patients, the aerodigestive tract and lung epithelium have been exposed chronically to the carcinogenic effects of alcohol and tobacco. In this situation, a field change effect may occur, where the epithelial tissues start to become diffusely dysplastic with a reduced threshold for malignant change. This risk may be reduced by quitting alcohol and tobacco.

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.

If there is a suspicion of cancer, biopsy is performed, usually under general anaesthetic. This provides histological proof of cancer type and grade. If the lesion appears to be small and well localised, the surgeon may undertake excision biopsy, where an attempt is made to completely remove the tumour at the time of first biopsy. In this situation, the pathologist will not only be able to confirm the diagnosis, but can also comment on the completeness of excision, i.e., whether the tumour has been completely removed. A full endoscopic examination of the larynx, trachea, and esophagus is often performed at the time of biopsy.

For small glottic tumours further imaging may be unnecessary. In most cases, tumour staging is completed by scanning the head and neck region to assess the local extent of the tumour and any pathologically enlarged cervical lymph nodes.

The final management plan will depend on the site, stage (tumour size, nodal spread, distant metastasis), and histological type. The overall health and wishes of the patient must also be taken into account.

Treatment :
Treatment of laryngeal cancer may involve:

*Radiotherapy – when high-energy x-rays are used to kill cancer cells.

*Surgery – this may involve the removal of a vocal cord (cordectomy), part of the larynx (partial laryngectomy) or the entire larynx (total laryngectomy) and lymph glands may also be removed (neck dissection). For early laryngeal cancers, laser therapy may be used.

*Chemotherapy – when drugs are used to kill cancer cells.
A team of experts is involved in caring for a person with laryngeal cancer. This team may include an ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon, a clinical oncologist, a medical oncologist, a specialist cancer nurse, a dietician, a dentist and a speech therapist.

Following treatment, a person may need specialist help and advice with talking and breathing, especially if the whole larynx has been removed. Helping someone speak involves using a speaking valve inserted at time of surgery, using a special electronic device that generates sound or using the oesophagus (gullet) to speak.

Emotional help and support is also often needed following diagnosis and treatment.

Prognosis:
Throat cancers can be cured in 90% of patients if detected early. If the cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or lymph nodes in the neck, 50 – 60% of patients can be cured. If the cancer has spread (metastasized) to parts of the body outside the head and neck, the cancer is not curable and treatment is aimed at prolonging and improving quality of life.

After treatment, patients generally need therapy to help with speech and swallowing. A small percentage of patients (5%) will not be able to swallow and will need to be fed through a feeding tube.

Complications:
•Airway obstruction
•Difficulty swallowing
•Disfigurement of the neck or face
•Hardening of the skin of the neck
•Loss of voice and speaking ability
•Spread of the cancer to other body areas (metastasis)

Prevention:
Avoid smoking and other tobacco exposure. Limit or avoid alcohol use.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.This is purely for educational purpose

Resources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/in_depth/cancer/typescancer_larynx.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laryngeal_cancer
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001042.htm
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/medical-conditions/a-z-of-medical-conditions/laryngeal-cancer/
https://www.aarphealthcare.com/galecontent/laryngeal-cancer-1
http://www.robertsreview.com/cancer_pictures_larynx.html

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