How can laryngeal cancer be detected

How can laryngeal cancer be detected? Patients with laryngeal cancer need daily care and treatment, but for patients who suffer from laryngeal cancer for the first time, they don’t know how to check for laryngeal cancer. Next, the author will introduce to you how laryngeal cancer can be detected?

At present, the treatment of laryngeal cancer includes surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, etc. In terms of histology and embryology, the left and right sides of the larynx develop independently, and the supraglottis, glottis and subglottis are from different primordia; the left and right lymphatic drainage is not connected to each other, and the supraglottis, glottis and subglottis lymphatic drainage are independent, which provides a basis for the surgical treatment of laryngeal cancer, especially partial resection. Different surgical procedures can be used according to the different locations of the cancer.

The main contents of laryngeal cancer examination include:

1. Neck examination: including inspection and palpation of the laryngeal shape and cervical lymph nodes. Observe the neck shape (whether it is symmetrical on both sides) and skin (with or without spider nevi, furuncles, carbuncles, scars), jugular vein filling and carotid artery pulsation; check cervical flexion and left and right movement; check the accessory nerve (against head rotation and shrugging, bilateral comparison).

2. Laryngoscopy: It is generally used for local lesions that cannot be clearly identified by indirect laryngoscopy. Or because the epiglottis is short and tilted backwards in a baby-like shape, it is difficult to lift it up; or children are uncooperative during indirect laryngoscopy; there are also lesions in the subglottic area, piriform sinus, post-cricoid space, etc. that are difficult to be identified by indirect laryngoscopy.

3. Imaging examination:

(1) X-ray examination: X-ray lateral laryngeal films and anteroposterior laryngeal tomographic films can clarify the general location, size, shape of the lesion and changes in the cartilage, trachea or anterior cervical soft tissue. If necessary, laryngeal angiography can be performed.

(2) CT and MR examinations: They are helpful in determining the extent of tumor growth in the larynx, the extent of external invasion, and the status of cervical lymph node metastasis, which is especially helpful for patients in the advanced stage.

(3) Ultrasonic tomography: A method used to detect enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, determine their location and relationship with surrounding tissues, and conduct follow-up examinations after postoperative radiotherapy. It has the advantages of being non-destructive, convenient, accurate, low-cost, and can be performed repeatedly.