Laryngeal cancer: overview, causes, diagnosis and treatment

Anatomy and disease locations

The larynx is commonly divided into three zones: the supraglottis (above the vocal cords), the glottis (containing the vocal cords) and the subglottis (below the cords). Cancer may develop in any of these areas and may involve adjacent structures. Because malignant change starts in the lining cells, knowledge of the laryngeal epithelium is central to understanding the disease: see laryngeal epithelium for basic tissue descriptions.

Risk factors and symptoms

Major risk factors include tobacco use and heavy alcohol consumption. Human papillomavirus (HPV) contributes to some tumours in the head and neck, and other risks are occupational exposures and poor oral hygiene. Common presentations depend on site but often include:

• persistent hoarseness or voice change
• sore throat, difficulty swallowing or the sensation of a lump
• unexplained weight loss, ear pain, or breathing difficulty in advanced cases

Diagnosis and staging

Diagnosis relies on direct visualisation (endoscopy) and tissue biopsy to confirm malignant cells; imaging helps define the tumour's extent. General oncology resources on malignant disease provide context: cancer. Staging commonly uses the TNM system to describe tumour size, nodal spread and distant metastasis, which guides prognosis and therapy.

Treatment and rehabilitation

Treatment options range from single-modality local therapy to combined approaches. For early, confined tumours, radiotherapy or conservative surgery often preserve voice. More extensive disease may require partial or total laryngectomy, sometimes combined with chemotherapy or targeted agents. Recent practice emphasizes organ-preserving strategies when oncologically safe. Rehabilitation after treatment addresses swallowing and voice—techniques include speech therapy, esophageal speech training and prosthetic devices such as tracheoesophageal puncture.

Prognosis, prevention and notable considerations

Prognosis depends primarily on tumour location and stage at diagnosis: early glottic tumours often present with voice change and are detected earlier, whereas supraglottic tumours may be discovered later. Preventive measures focus on smoking cessation, reducing alcohol use and HPV vaccination where appropriate. For authoritative clinical guidance and patient information see professional resources: further reading.