This article is: which otorhinolaryngology symptoms need special attention to exclude cancer Although there are quite a few types of malignant tumors (cancers) in otorhinolaryngology, the ones with higher incidence are nasopharyngeal carcinoma, laryngeal carcinoma, tonsil carcinoma, maxillary sinus carcinoma, middle-ear carcinoma, as well as esophageal carcinoma which is clinically close to otorhinolaryngology, and so on. Symptoms related to nasopharyngeal cancer Whenever the following symptoms appear, it should be highly valued and it is necessary to carry out several examinations to exclude nasopharyngeal cancer. If there is blood in aspirated snot for a period of time, one should see otorhinolaryngology in time and have nasopharyngeal examination (fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy is the most reliable). Progressive persistent nasal congestion If there is progressive persistent nasal congestion for a period of time, i.e. the nasal congestion exists day and night and is getting more and more aggravated, it is mostly seen in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma with more serious lesions, and it is easy to be detected by post-nasal endoscopy because of the blockage of posterior nostril by the mass. Tinnitus and middle ear effusion Tinnitus and middle ear effusion can be early symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer. When the nasopharyngeal cancer mass is large and develops towards the Eustachian tube, it can squeeze the Eustachian tube and cause the Eustachian tube to be occluded and impassable, which will cause tinnitus, persistent middle ear effusion, hearing loss, or a feeling of distension or slight pain in the ear. Headache Headache can be an early symptom of nasopharyngeal cancer. Headache caused by nasopharyngeal cancer in early stage mainly belongs to nerve reflex headache, and the site tends to be fixed. In the advanced stage of nasopharyngeal cancer, the headache may be severe, with fixed location and aggravated at night. Headache after radiotherapy may be tumor recurrence. Swelling of cervical lymph nodes Neck mass is usually first seen in cervical lymph nodes on the same side, and then can be transferred to the opposite side. Lymph node masses are commonly found in the anterior or posterior margin of the upper sternocleidomastoid muscle or its medial side. At the initial stage, there may be only one lump, which is not big in shape but immovable (poor mobility), slightly hard and painless when pressed; however, the number of lumps increases in a short time, the shape increases significantly, the hardness improves, and they merge with each other to form a huge lump such as a fist, which can be seen as nodular unevenness from the appearance, and at this time, it may cause pain in the neck. No matter when they appear, the symptoms of nasopharyngeal cancer metastasizing to lymph nodes in neck belong to advanced stage. Symptoms related to laryngeal cancer, hypopharyngeal cancer and esophageal cancer When the following symptoms occur, it is necessary to pay great attention to them and exclude cancers of pharynx and esophagus. 1. When malignant tumor in larynx protrudes from the surface of mucous membrane of larynx, it is easy to be broken and infected, and the symptom of sputum will appear. Should see otorhinolaryngology as early as possible, do indirect laryngoscopy, but it is best to do fiber laryngoscopy (also called electronic laryngoscopy) to the better medical institutions, it is easy to find the lesion clearly, for those who are suspected to be malignant tumors, and then further biopsy to make a clear diagnosis. Hoarseness of voice: Hoarseness of voice may occur at the beginning of vocal cord cancer. Laryngoscopy can easily find out the lesion, and for those who are suspected of malignant tumor, further biopsy should be done to make a clear diagnosis. Foreign body sensation and obstruction in throat Cancer of hypopharynx, larynx and cancer near esophagus mouth can cause foreign body sensation and obstruction in throat at early stage. For those who have this symptom, laryngoscopy should be considered, and fiberoptic laryngoscopy is better. Obstruction of eating is mainly seen in hypopharyngeal cancer and esophageal cancer. With different directions and speeds of development of cancerous tissues, the symptoms of obstruction of eating can be aggravated slowly or progressed rapidly. In hypopharyngeal cancer and esophageal cancer, the site of obstruction of feeding is mainly in the pharynx, while in esophageal cancer, the site of obstruction of feeding is mainly in the back of sternum. The former can be easily detected by laryngoscopy, while the latter can be easily detected by esophageal barium swallow (or fluoroscopy), and further pathological biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis of suspicious lesions. Obstruction of feeding can also be seen in other lesions. Such as pharyngeal muscle paralysis, scar contraction, pharyngeal benign tumors.