ear, nose, and throat disorders
Laryngeal Cancer
Key Points
Hoarseness is common early in glottic cancers but is a late symptom for supraglottic and subglottic cancers. All patients who have hoarseness for>2 to 3 weeks should have their larynx examined by a head and neck specialist. Patients with confirmed carcinoma typically have neck CT with contrast and often PET/CT for advanced stages. Treat early-stage (T1 and T2) glottic, supraglottic, and subglottic cancer with surgery or radiation therapy. Treat moderately advanced (T3) glottic, supraglottic, and subglottic cancer with radiation therapy and sometimes chemotherapy. Treat most advanced (T4) glottic, supraglottic, and subglottic cancer that extends outside of the larynx with surgery and then postoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Some minimally invasive T4 cancers can be considered for primary treatment with chemotherapy and radiation. 