How to diagnose throat cancer

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on October 26, 2024
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Laryngeal cancer examinations are mainly divided into two categories. The first category is laryngoscopy, and the second is imaging studies. Laryngoscopy is further subdivided into fiberoptic laryngoscopy, electronic laryngoscopy, and indirect laryngoscopy. Indirect laryngoscopy is relatively rudimentary and generally doesn't play a significant role in diagnosing laryngeal cancer. Therefore, fiberoptic or electronic laryngoscopy is typically preferred as these methods can directly determine the presence of neoplasms in the throat. If a neoplasm is detected, further pathological biopsy testing can be considered. The other method is imaging studies, primarily involving CT scans or MRI of the throat. These are helpful in determining the size, extent, and preliminary nature of the throat neoplasms. Combined with the above methods, a definitive diagnosis can generally be established.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
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Malignant treatment methods for laryngeal cancer

Laryngeal cancer is a malignant tumor of the larynx, clinically mainly squamous cell carcinoma. The treatment method for laryngeal cancer should be based on the patient's age, the pathological type of the patient, the extent of the malignant tumor, and the presence or absence of systemic metastasis. Clinical treatments mainly focus on surgery, combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, as comprehensive treatment methods. There may be some differences in surgical approaches for different types of laryngeal cancer, such as total laryngectomy or partial laryngectomies, which can be vertical or horizontal. Therefore, treatment should be tailored to the specific conditions of the patient. In late-stage laryngeal cancer, only palliative symptomatic treatment can be performed.

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
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Are pharyngeal cancer and laryngeal cancer the same?

Pharyngeal cancer and laryngeal cancer are the same; the onset of pharyngeal cancer in patients is due to the stimulation of long-term smoking, alcohol consumption, and the intake of overly hot foods, causing malignant proliferation of the squamous epithelium in the pharyngeal mucosa, leading to tumor development. For patients with pharyngeal cancer, the first step should be to complete routine blood tests, coagulation function tests, electronic nasopharyngoscopy, and other relevant examinations, and use a biopsy of a pathological slice for diagnosis. The main treatment method for patients with laryngeal cancer is surgical removal, and postoperative radiotherapy can be appropriately carried out to prevent tumor recurrence.

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
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Throat cancer coughing up blood, what is going on?

Patients with laryngeal cancer may experience bleeding due to the rupture of local tumors. The surface tissue of tumors that develop in laryngeal cancer is relatively fragile, and may rupture and cause bleeding during stimuli such as eating or coughing. When these symptoms occur, it is crucial to visit a hospital for medical consultation immediately. Examinations like indirect laryngoscopy and electronic nasopharyngoscopy can help confirm the patient's symptoms and make an accurate diagnosis. Under the guidance of a physician, hemostatic drugs, antibiotics, and hormones can be used for temporary symptomatic treatment. Patients with laryngeal cancer should be detected and treated early, undergo surgery as soon as possible, and receive radiation and chemotherapy to ensure their survival.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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What are the symptoms of early-stage throat cancer?

The early symptoms of laryngeal cancer vary: some people exhibit typical symptoms while others show atypical symptoms or even no symptoms initially. For glottic laryngeal cancer, one of the earlier symptoms is hoarseness. This type of cancer occurs in the vocal cords area, which can affect closure of the vocal cords during speech, causing hoarseness. Some patients may also experience throat pain, abnormal bloody discharge from the throat, or have difficulties in breathing and swallowing, which could all be symptoms of laryngeal cancer. However, some patients may not show any symptoms in the early stages, especially those with supraglottic or subglottic laryngeal cancer, where early symptoms are not typical. Symptoms might only appear in the mid to late stages. Therefore, it is necessary to use a laryngoscope for examination and to perform a neck CT for a comprehensive evaluation.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Can you speak after laryngeal cancer surgery?

Laryngeal cancer is a malignant tumor of the larynx, and the clinical treatment is mainly surgical, including radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and comprehensive treatment. Whether one can speak after surgery depends on the method of the surgery. Total laryngectomy renders the patient unable to speak. We can help the patient speak through esophageal speech, electronic larynx, and other assistive devices, but there is a significant difference in the sound quality and volume compared to normal speech. With partial laryngectomy, depending on the specific situation, the patient may be able to speak, but the quality of speech still differs greatly from normal speech. Overall, it depends on the condition of the laryngeal cancer and the surgical approach.