I. Prevalent groups of laryngeal cancer
Laryngeal cancer mostly occurs in heavy smokers, except for supraglottic laryngeal cancer and infraglottic laryngeal cancer, most patients have relatively obvious early symptoms and are less likely to have lymph node metastasis in the neck.
Prevalent sites of laryngeal cancer
The most common site of laryngeal cancer is vocal cord, followed by epiglottis.
Classification of laryngeal cancer
It can be divided into supraglottic, glottic, infraglottic and paraglottic types according to the tumor location. Pathological type: more than 90% are squamous cell carcinoma.
Symptoms of laryngeal cancer
Symptoms of different types of laryngeal cancer are different.
Supraglottic type
Early symptoms: no significant symptoms, only foreign body sensation in the throat and throat discomfort.
Late symptoms: sore throat, earache, blood in sputum; hoarseness, difficulty in breathing; neck mass.
Clinical features: poor differentiation, rapid development, early metastasis, poor prognosis, early diagnosis is not easy.
Vocal tract type
Early symptoms: hoarseness Progressive worsening.
Late symptoms: laryngeal stridor, dyspnea.
Clinical features: better differentiation, slow development, late metastasis, better prognosis; high early diagnosis rate, most common.
Subglottic type
Early symptoms: inconspicuous, cough, blood in sputum.
Late symptoms: hoarseness, dyspnea, pre-tracheal mass.
Clinical features: insidious, not easily detected early
Paravocalicular type
Early symptoms: none.
Late symptoms: hoarseness, dyspnea, peripheral infiltration
Clinical features: insidious, not easily detected at an early stage
V. Early diagnosis of laryngeal cancer
If you have throat discomfort, persistent hoarseness for more than one month, combined with long-term heavy smoking and alcohol consumption, you should go to the Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery for timely diagnosis. What tests should be performed?
1.Electronic laryngoscopy
2.If tumor is found in laryngoscopy, tissue biopsy pathological examination should be performed.
3.CT examination is needed to determine the extent of tumor involvement.
Treatment of early laryngeal cancer
According to the location and scope of tumor and patient’s general condition, treatment plan should be formulated.
Surgical treatment.
Laser laryngeal microsurgery: It is applicable to early laryngeal cancer of vocal fold type and supraglottic laryngeal cancer.
Advantages: no surgical incision on the neck and fast recovery after surgery.
Right vocal cord cancer: before surgery Right vocal cord cancer: 5 years after surgery
Radiation therapy.
Applicable to early stage vocal fold laryngeal cancer and supraglottic laryngeal cancer.
Advantages: higher voice quality after treatment than surgery.
VII. Need for follow-up treatment
The treatment effect of early stage laryngeal cancer is more satisfactory, and the 5-year survival rate is about 90% or more. The recurrence after treatment is mainly between 1~2 years, so it is very important to follow up after treatment. Therefore, it is very important to have a follow-up examination after treatment. Generally, within 2 years after treatment, a follow-up examination should be held every 3 months, and after 2 years, a follow-up examination should be held every 6 months.
VIII. Precautions for patients and family members
1.After suffering from laryngeal cancer, patients inevitably have depressed mood and family members have panic mentality. In this case, it is necessary to maintain an optimistic attitude, face it positively and cooperate with doctors for joint treatment, which can achieve satisfactory results.
2. Patients must quit smoking and drinking, and family members should create a relaxed and warm atmosphere.