What causes throat cancer?

Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
Updated on April 23, 2025
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Laryngeal cancer is a common malignant tumor in daily life. Its occurrence is due to factors related to long-term smoking, drinking, and stimulation from physical and chemical factors in the air or work environment. For patients with laryngeal cancer, it is usually necessary to make a definitive diagnosis through examinations such as electronic nasopharyngoscopy, electronic laryngoscopy, and CT of the larynx. Particularly when the patient presents symptoms such as hoarseness, cough with blood, and breathing difficulty, it should draw the patient's attention to seek timely medical examination at a hospital, aiming for early detection and early treatment.

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
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How to rule out throat cancer

Throat cancer is a common malignant tumor in otolaryngology, ranking among the top of various malignant tumors in this field. Patients with throat cancer typically experience symptoms such as throat pain and discomfort in the early stages. We can use electronic laryngoscopy and CT scans of the throat area for diagnosis to achieve early detection and treatment. For cases showing cauliflower-like or abnormal proliferation in the throat area, a local biopsy can be conducted for pathological confirmation. Once throat cancer is detected, it is crucial to complete necessary examinations promptly, rule out surgical contraindications, and proceed with surgery as soon as possible. Treatment should also be complemented with radiotherapy and chemotherapy to aid in curing the patient.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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How to diagnose throat cancer

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
Otolaryngology
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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 Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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What should I do about edema from radiation therapy for throat cancer?

After radiotherapy for laryngeal cancer, or during the process of radiotherapy, edema may occur, mainly mucosal edema in the pharyngeal region, and some patients may also experience swelling of the soft tissues in the neck. In such cases, it is recommended to visit an otolaryngology department where a laryngoscopy and routine blood tests can be conducted to help assess the severity of the condition. Generally, nebulizer therapy can be chosen. If there is an accompanying acute bacterial inflammation, antibiotics may need to be considered. Most patients will see a gradual reduction in the degree of swelling after timely medication treatment, but overall, complete recovery requires a relatively long period of time.

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
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Recurrence rate after total laryngectomy for throat cancer

Laryngeal cancer is a common disease in otolaryngology and a relatively prevalent malignant tumor. Patients who undergo total laryngectomy often have advanced laryngeal tumors, which block the esophagus or pharynx and have tumor tissues too large for partial removal. The likelihood of recurrence after tumor resection varies from patient to patient, depending on the radiotherapy and chemotherapy administered post-operatively, as well as individual physical constitutions, which can alter recurrence rates. Generally, we recommend that patients undergo a laryngoscopic check-up every three to six months and a CT scan of the larynx post-surgery, to enable timely detection and treatment, aiming for early control and intervention in case of potential recurrence.