Laryngeal carcinoma

It is the presence of a malignant tumor in the larynx, which is the area of ​​the throat that includes the vocal cords. The larynx is made up of three parts: the glottis (where the vocal cords are located), the supraglottis (above the vocal cords and connected with the pharynx), and the subglottis (below the vocal cords and connected with the trachea). The functions of the larynx are the emission of voice, swallowing and breathing. The tumor will alter any of these functions, depending on its location and its size. Risk factors associated with the development of this cancer: smoking, alcohol consumption, low fruit and vegetable intake, male gender, papillomavirus infection, inhalation of various chemical substances and chronic irritation due to gastric acid reflux. The most common symptoms are hoarseness, sore throat, constant cough, pain when swallowing, difficulty swallowing, earache, difficulty breathing, weight loss, and a lump in the neck. Treatment will depend on the size of the tumor and its extent. In the earliest stages, in which the tumor is localised and smaller, treatment will be surgery or radiation. In the more advanced stages, treatment with radiation therapy and sometimes chemotherapy will be necessary. In the stages where the tumor extends outside the larynx, it will be treated with surgery and then postoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy. After treatment, rehabilitation may be necessary. After chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or surgery, swallowing problems are common and oesophageal dilation or, in severe cases, surgical replacement of the pharynx or gastrostomy feeding tubes may be required. Speech will be more affected in cases where surgery is needed, requiring rehabilitation and speech therapy to regain voice. The 5-year survival rate for laryngeal carcinoma is 61%. However, more than half of patients are diagnosed and treated before the cancer spreads outside the larynx, and in these cases, the 5-year survival rate reaches 76%.