Procedure Description:

Laryngeal cancer

Laryngectomy refers to the surgical removal of the larynx. The larynx is the area of your throat that contains your vocal chords, which allow you to make sound. The larynx joins your nose, mouth, and lungs. It also protects your respiratory system by keeping food and liquids in your esophagus rather than your lungs. A laryngectomy will damage your ability to speak, swallow, and breathe. Following surgery, you will need to learn new methods for performing these three duties.

Disease Overview:

Laryngeal cancer is a cancer of the larynx, or voice box. Voice alterations, such as hoarseness, as well as persistent sore throat or cough, are indications of laryngeal cancer. A laryngectomy is a surgical procedure that removes part or all of your larynx.

Disease Signs and Symptoms:

The early symptoms of laryngeal carcinoma are easily misdiagnosed as other illnesses. The most prevalent symptom, hoarseness that persists after a few weeks, is easily mistaken for a cold. If you experience the following symptoms, consult a healthcare expert to get an accurate diagnosis.

1- A persistent sore throat or cough.

2- Voice alterations, such as hoarseness, that do not improve within two weeks.

3- Pain or difficulty swallowing.

4- A lump in the neck or throat.

5- Difficulties creating vocal sounds (dysphonia).

6- Ear ache.

Disease Causes:

Smoking or using other tobacco products significantly increases your chances of developing laryngeal cancer. Drinking alcohol, especially in excess (more than one drink every day), increases your risk. And combining alcohol and tobacco increases your risk even further.

Additional risk factors for laryngeal carcinoma include:

1) Age: People above the age of 55 are more likely to develop laryngeal cancer.

2- Gender: Men and persons assigned male at birth are nearly five times more likely to acquire this cancer, which could be due to higher rates of smoking and heavy alcohol intake.

3- History of head and neck cancer: Approximately one in every four (25%) people who have had the disease may develop it again.

4- Job: People who are exposed to specific drugs at work are more vulnerable. These pollutants include sulfuric acid mist, wood dust, nickel, asbestos, and manufactured mustard gas. Working with machines increases the risk of developing laryngeal cancer.

Disease Diagnosis:

Diagnostic tests include:

1. Imaging scans: CT and MRI scans produce detailed images of the inside of your body. They can show a tumor's size and location. A chest X-ray can reveal whether cancer has progressed to the lungs.

2- Laryngoscopy: A provider examines your larynx using a narrow, lighted tube known as an endoscope.

3. PET scan: A PET scan involves injecting a small, harmless dosage of a radioactive material into your vein. The material highlights areas containing cancer cells.

4- Biopsy: During a biopsy, a provider removes a small bit of abnormal tissue from your larynx for examination under a microscope. A pathologist will examine the cells, looking for specific protein markers. Some cancer treatments only act on cancer cells that contain specific protein markers.

Disease Treatment:

Treatment for laryngeal carcinoma involves:

1. Radiation therapy: Radiation oncologists use high-energy radiation beams to eliminate cancer cells. To avoid causing damage to surrounding healthy tissue, the radiation selectively targets the tumor.

2- Chemotherapy: Medical oncologists provide drugs to destroy or halt the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy is often administered intravenously (via a vein). Chemotherapy might create adverse effects, which a medical oncologist can help you manage.

3- Immunotherapy: This treatment harnesses your immune system, your body's natural defenses, to combat cancer. Immunotherapy is also known as biologic therapy.

Targeted therapy: This treatment uses certain types of proteins to inhibit cancer cells from proliferating.

4- Surgery: In the early stages of laryngeal cancer, surgery can remove the tumor while preserving the larynx. For advanced malignancy, doctors frequently perform a laryngectomy, which involves removing your entire larynx.

You may receive more than one therapy. Following surgery, people may receive chemotherapy or radiation therapy to eradicate any leftover cancer cells.