INTRODUCTION: Laryngeal cancer is a rare cancer in which malignant cells grow in the larynx, or voice box. Smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol are the main risk factors for laryngeal cancer. DEFINITION: Laryngeal cancer is a tumor that develops in the larynx, or voice box. CAUSES: The exact cause of laryngeal cancer is idiopathic (unknown). RISKS FACTORS • Smoking: It is the most significant risk factor for laryngeal cancer. • Moderate or heavy alcohol consumption • Gender: being male, as men are four times more likely to develop laryngeal cancer than women • Age: Laryngeal cancer happens more in people age 55 and older. • Genetic factors • Poor nutrition and vitamin deficiency • Human papillomavirus (HPV) • Previous history of head or neck cancer • Exposure to certain chemicals in the workplace, such as paint fumes and some chemicals in metalworking • Low immunity CLASSIFICATION OF LARYNGEAL CANCER: 1. Supraglottic larynx cancer: Supraglottic carcinoma is cancer that starts in the supraglottis of the larynx. It is the second most common type of laryngeal cancer. (the area above the vocal cords) 2. Glottic larynx cancer: It is a malignancy of the larynx that involves the true vocal cords and anterior and posterior commissures. (the area that includes the vocal cords) 3. Subglottic larynx cancer: It is cancer that starts in the subglottis of the larynx. It is a very rare type of laryngeal cancer. (the area below the vocal cords) STAGING OF LARYNGEAL CANCER • Tumor (T): How large is the primary tumor? Where is it located? • Node (N): Has the tumor spread to the lymph nodes? If so, where and how many? • Metastasis (M): Has the cancer spread to other parts of the body? If so, where and how much? Tumor (T): Using the TNM system, the "T" plus a letter or number (0 to 4) is used to describe the size and location of the tumor. Tumor size is measured in centimeters (cm). A centimeter is roughly equal to the width of a standard pen or pencil. Tumors of the larynx TX: The primary tumor cannot be evaluated. Tis: This is a stage called carcinoma (cancer) in situ. It is a very early cancer where cancer cells are found in only 1 layer of tissue. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF LARYNGEAL CANCER The symptoms of laryngeal cancer depend on the size and location of the tumour. Symptoms may include the following:  Hoarseness or other voice changes  A lump in the neck  A sore throat  Persistent cough  Stridor - a high-pitched wheezing sound indicative of a narrowed or obstructed airway  Bad breath  an abnormal lump in the throat or neck  difficulty or pain when swallowing  frequently choking on food  difficult or noisy breathing  persistent ear pain or an unusual sensation in and around the skin of the ear  unplanned, significant weight loss  persistent bad breath TREATMENT There are different types of treatment for patients with laryngeal cancer. Four types of standard treatment are used:  Radiation therapy

4.  Laryngeal cancer is a rare cancer in which
malignant cells grow in the larynx, or voice
box. Smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol
are the main risk factors for laryngeal cancer.

5.  Laryngeal cancer is a tumor that develops in
the larynx, or voice box.

6.  The exact cause of laryngeal cancer is
idiopathic (unknown).

7.  Smoking: It is the most significant risk factor for
laryngeal cancer.
 Moderate or heavy alcohol consumption
 Gender: being male, as men are four times
more likely to develop laryngeal cancer than
women
 Age: Laryngeal cancer happens more in people
age 55 and older.

8.  Genetic factors
 Poor nutrition and vitamin deficiency
 Human papillomavirus (HPV)
 Previous history of head or neck cancer
 Exposure to certain chemicals in the workplace,
such as paint fumes and some chemicals in
metalworking
 Low immunity

10.  Supraglottic carcinoma is cancer that starts in the
supraglottis of the larynx. It is the second most common
type of laryngeal cancer.

11.  It is a malignancy of the larynx that involves the
true vocal cords and anterior and posterior
commissures. (the area that includes the vocal
cords)

12.  It is cancer that starts in the subglottis of the
larynx. It is a very rare type of laryngeal
cancer. (the area below the vocal cords)

13.  Tumor (T): How large is the primary tumor?
Where is it located?
 Node (N): Has the tumor spread to the lymph
nodes? If so, where and how many?
 Metastasis (M): Has the cancer spread to other
parts of the body? If so, where and how much?

14. GLOTTIS OF THE TUMOR
T1 The tumor is limited to the vocal cords, but it does not affect the
movement of the cords.
T1a The tumor is only in the right or left vocal cord.
T1b The tumor is in both vocal folds.
T2 The tumor has spread to the supraglottis and/or the subglottis. The
tumor may also affect the movement of the vocal cord.
T3 The tumor is limited to the larynx and paralyzes at least 1 of the
vocal cords. The tumor may also invade the space inside the
larynx and/or the cartilage around the thyroid gland.

15. T4 The tumor has spread beyond the larynx.
T4a The tumor has spread to the thyroid cartilage
and/or the tissue beyond the larynx.
T4b The tumor has spread to the area in front of the
spine (prevertebral space) or the chest area, or it
encases the arteries.

16. Supraglottis tumor of the larynx
T1 The tumor is located in a single area above the vocal cords that
does not affect the movement of the vocal cords.
T2 The tumor started in the supraglottis, but it has spread to the
mucous membranes that line other nearby areas, such as the base
of the tongue. The vocal cords are not affected.
T3 The tumor is limited to the larynx and affects the vocal cords.
The tumor may have spread to surrounding tissue.

17. T4 The tumor has spread beyond the larynx.
T4a The tumor has spread through the thyroid cartilage
and/or the tissue beyond the larynx.
T4b The tumor has spread to the area in front of the spine
(prevertebral space) or the chest area, or it encases the
arteries.

18. Subglottis tumor of the larynx
T1 The tumor is only in the subglottis.
T2 The tumor has spread to the vocal cords. Movement of the vocal
cords may be affected.
T3 The tumor is limited to the larynx and affects the vocal folds. It
may also invade the space inside the larynx and/or the cartilage
of the thyroid.

19. T4 The tumor has spread beyond the larynx.
T4a The tumor has spread to the cricoids, the ring-shaped
cartilage near the bottom of the larynx, or thyroid
cartilage and/or the tissue beyond the larynx.
T4b The tumor has spread to the area in front of the spine or
the chest area, or it encases the arteries.

20. NX The regional lymph nodes cannot be evaluated.
N0 There is no evidence of cancer in the regional lymph nodes.
N1 The cancer has spread to a single lymph node on the same side
as the primary tumor, and the cancer found in the node is 3 cm
or smaller. There is no extranodal extension (ENE).
N2a Cancer has spread to a single lymph node on the same side as
the primary tumor and is larger than 3 cm but not larger than 6
cm. There is no extranodal extension (ENE).

21. N2b Cancer has spread to more than 1 lymph node on the same side
as the primary tumor, and none measures larger than 6 cm. There
is extranodal extension (ENE).
N2c Cancer has spread to more than 1 lymph node on either side of
the body, and none measures larger than 6 cm. There is no
extranodal extension (ENE).
N3a The cancer is found in a lymph node and is larger than 6 cm.
There is no extranodal extension (ENE).
N3b There is extranodal extension (ENE) in any lymph node.

22. M0 The cancer has not spread to other parts of the body.
M1 The cancer has spread to other parts of the body.