The spread and metastasis pathways of laryngeal cancer

The spread and metastasis of laryngeal cancer is closely related to the primary site of the tumor, the degree of differentiation of tumor cells, the size of the tumor, and the patient's immunity to the tumor. There are three main ways for the spread and metastasis of laryngeal cancer:

1. Direct diffusion

Laryngeal cancer is prone to infiltrate along the mucosal surface or under the mucosa and expand its lesions. Supraglottic cancer can invade the pre-epiglottic space, epiglottic vallecula, and tongue root through the blood vessels and nerve holes on the epiglottic cartilage or the destroyed epiglottic cartilage. Glottic cancer is prone to invade the anterior commissure and the contralateral vocal cords. In the late stage, it can also destroy the thyroid cartilage and make the larynx swell. Subglottic cancer can invade the trachea downward, penetrate the cricothyroid membrane forward to the anterior cervical muscle layer, invade the thyroid gland on both sides, and affect the anterior wall of the esophagus backward.

2. Lymphatic metastasis

The most common sites of metastasis are the lymph nodes at the bifurcation of the common carotid artery in the deep upper cervical group, and then metastasize to the upper and lower lymph nodes along the internal jugular vein. Subglottic cancer often metastasizes to the anterior laryngeal lymph nodes and paratracheal lymph nodes.

3. Hematogenous metastasis

Hematogenous metastasis occurs later and is relatively rare. It can spread throughout the body through the blood circulation to the lungs, liver, bones, kidneys, pituitary gland, etc.