Laryngeal Cancer

Question 1

What are the risk factors for laryngeal cancer?

Answer 1

• > 40 pack-years tobacco use
• > 8 SDs per day
• Neck radiotherapy
• FHx of laryngeal cancer

Question 2

What are the history/exam findings in a patient with laryngeal cancer?

Answer 2

• Risk factors
• Hoarseness
• Dysphagia
• Odynophagia
• Constitutional symptoms (if advanced disease)
• Cervical lymphadenopathy
• Supraglottic mass/ulceration/bleeding

Question 3

How might you investigate a patient supected to have laryngeal cancer?

Answer 3

• Neck/chest CT
• FNA of neck mass
• Flexible larygnoscopy/biopsy

Question 4

How should a patient with laryngeal cancer be managed?

Answer 4

• Glottic/supraglottic
  
  • Surgical resection, sparing vocal folds if possible, otherwise partial/total laryngectomy
  • Chemoradiotherapy
  • Speech therapy/rehab
• Subglottic
  
  • Total laryngectomy
  • Speech rehabilitation