Hoarseness

Question 1

What are some causes of hoarseness?

Answer 1

• Coice overuse
• Smoking
• Viral illness
• Hypothyroidism
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux
• Laryngeal cancer
• Lung cancer

Question 2

What are NICE guidelines for suspected cancer?

Answer 2

• Refer urgently for chest x-ray patients with hoarseness persisting for more than 3 weeks:
  
  • Particularly smokers
  • Aged older than 50 years
  • Heavy drinkers
• Positive finding CXR –> refer urgently lung cancer team.
• Negative CXR –>, refer urgently to head and neck cancer team.