Epiglottis cancer can directly spread and metastasize, and can also metastasize through cervical lymph and bloodstream.
1. Direct diffusion metastasis: epiglottis cancer belongs to supraglottic laryngeal cancer, which can invade the anterior epiglottic space and epiglottic valley through the blood vessels and nerve holes on epiglottic cartilage, and also invade the root of tongue and aryepiglottic folds through the epiglottic ligament of the hyoid bone, and even spread to the lateral wall of laryngopharyngeal and the pyriform fossa.
2. Transcervical lymphatic transfer: the epiglottis belongs to the supraglottic area. As the lymphatic vessels in the supravocal area are rich, metastasis of epiglottis cancer through lymph nodes is more common, and the site of metastasis is mostly seen in the deep upper cervical lymph nodes, and then develops up and down along the lymph node chain.
3. Transhematogenous metastasis: hematogenous metastasis is rare and can occur in the late stage of the disease. The most common metastatic site is lung, followed by liver, bone and kidney.
There are more metastatic areas for recurrence of epiglottis cancer, once recurrence is considered, one should go to ENT department of hospital in time to have targeted examination under the guidance of professional doctors to understand the condition and then further diagnose and treat.