Four types of laryngeal cancer and their clinical manifestations

The larynx is both the respiratory tract and the organ for pronunciation. It is located in the middle of the front of the neck. The symptoms of laryngeal cancer vary, which are related to the location of the cancer. According to the location of the cancer, it can be divided into the following 4 types:

1. Supraglottic type

It includes laryngeal cancer originating from the epiglottis, ventricular band, laryngeal ventricle, aryepiglottic fold, and interarytenoid region. The early symptoms are discomfort in the throat or a foreign body sensation, followed by throat pain that radiates to the ears and worsens when swallowing. Sputum may contain blood with a foul odor, and some patients may have hoarseness.

2. Glottal type

Laryngeal cancer that occurs in the vocal cords may present as hoarseness in the early stages. As the disease progresses, hoarseness may worsen and breathing difficulties may occur.

3. Subglottic type

Laryngeal cancer includes laryngeal cancer below the vocal cords and above the lower edge of the cricoid cartilage. The early symptoms are not obvious and may only manifest as blood in sputum. As the disease progresses, hoarseness may occur. If the cancer lesions block the subglottic cavity, breathing difficulties may occur. This type of laryngeal cancer is prone to metastasis to the pretracheal or paratracheal lymph nodes.

4. Paraglottal type

It refers to cancer that originates in the laryngeal ventricle, spanning two anatomical regions, namely the supraglottic area and the glottic area, and is characterized by extensive infiltration of the paraglottic space. The early symptoms are not obvious and it is difficult to detect by laryngoscopy. Once hoarseness occurs, vocal cord fixation has usually occurred.