How to self-examine for throat cancer

Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
Updated on October 26, 2024
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Throat cancer is a common malignant tumor in otolaryngology, and patients with throat cancer usually have no obvious early symptoms. If a patient exhibits symptoms such as hoarseness and difficulty swallowing, it should be taken seriously, especially in patients with a long history of smoking. At this point, it is important to seek medical attention promptly, complete inspections using electronic laryngoscopes, a CT scan of the throat, and other relevant examinations to make a clear diagnosis. For patients with neoplasms in the throat, a pathological biopsy is necessary to determine the type of pathology. The most effective treatment method for throat cancer patients is early detection and early treatment, which can avoid surgical operations through early laser surgery, thus reducing the pain and trauma for the patient.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Does throat cancer cause coughing?

Throat cancer is a relatively common malignant tumor in the head and neck area, with many clinical symptoms. Some patients may experience coughing and throat pain, followed by a foreign body sensation and hoarseness. Some may suffer from swallowing obstruction and breathing difficulties. Currently, the common diagnostic methods include laryngoscopy and CT scans of the laryngeal area. Under the guidance of laryngoscopy, a tissue sample can be taken for a pathological biopsy, which enables clinical and pathological staging and typing. Subsequent targeted treatments will be required. The common treatment methods include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. The treatment plan should be determined based on a comprehensive consideration of the patient's condition and physical health.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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How to distinguish between throat cancer and pharyngitis.

Laryngeal cancer and pharyngitis are fundamentally different. First, there is the specific nature of the lesions: laryngeal cancer is a type of malignant tumor in the pharyngeal and laryngeal areas, posing significant health risks; whereas pharyngitis is a common clinical symptom in the pharyngeal and laryngeal areas, mainly caused by inflammatory reactions, and may involve sensations of a foreign body in the throat, pain, and burning, but overall, it poses less risk to health. Additionally, the specific sites of disease onset differ. The lesions in laryngeal cancer primarily occur in the vocal cord area, with some in the supraglottic or subglottic areas, where new growths might be found, which can be identified through pathological biopsy. In contrast, pharyngitis primarily involves chronic congestion and inflammatory reactions of the mucous membranes in the pharyngeal area, with no direct new growth, which can be directly diagnosed and differentiated through pathological biopsy.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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How is laryngeal cancer diagnosed?

In clinical settings, the diagnosis of laryngeal cancer primarily relies on several aspects. Firstly, the patient's history, such as a family history of laryngeal cancer, and whether there is a long-term smoking history, for example, smoking two packs a day. Secondly, we need some clinical data, such as whether the patient exhibits symptoms like hoarseness. Then, during physical examination, we need to check for the presence of cancerous tissues in the hypopharynx, vocal cords, and the subglottic cavity, such as the presence of lumps, uneven surfaces, erosion, ulcers, etc. These are its symptoms and signs. Furthermore, we can utilize some auxiliary examinations, such as laryngoscopy, which allows direct observation of the tumor tissue. However, the definitive test involves taking a sample of the tumor tissue for a biopsy, identifying the presence of tumor cells, i.e., cancer cells. This result serves as the basis for confirming a diagnosis of laryngeal cancer. Of course, other auxiliary examinations like CT scans and MRI can also assist in diagnosing laryngeal cancer.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Can throat cancer be detected by a CT scan?

Most laryngeal cancers can be detected through CT scans because, during the scan, it is possible to see whether there are neoplasms in the area of the pharynx and larynx, especially around the laryngeal cavity, ventricle, and vocal cords. Generally, if there are any growths, they will be visible on a CT scan. However, some early-stage laryngeal cancers, where the mucosa has just started to show changes, might be missed by CT scans. In such cases, it is generally recommended to also perform a laryngoscopic examination. If possible, conducting an NBI (Narrow Band Imaging) laryngoscopy could reveal early mucosal changes. If early-stage laryngeal cancer is confirmed by pathology, surgical or radiation treatment can be very effective and generally has a low chance of recurrence.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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Symptoms and Early Signs of Throat Cancer

Symptoms and signs of laryngeal cancer in patients mainly vary according to the different locations of the tumor in the larynx. Most patients with early-stage laryngeal cancer experience a foreign body sensation in the throat, which can be persistent. Patients may even feel a choking sensation when swallowing. Additionally, some patients with early-stage laryngeal cancer may experience unexplained hoarseness or coughing and choking when drinking water, and these symptoms generally do not respond well to oral medication. Some patients exhibit frequent coughing, and ordinary symptomatic cough treatments are ineffective. These are mostly early symptoms and signs. As the laryngeal cancer progresses, patients will experience a noticeable obstruction in the throat, along with symptoms like difficulty breathing.