A variety of treatments are available for patients with laryngeal cancer, or cancer of the larynx. Some are standard; others are being tested in clinical trials.
Surgery for Cancer of the Larynx
Surgery is a common treatment for all stages of laryngeal cancer. The following surgical procedures may be used:
- Cordectomy to remove the vocal cords only
- Supraglotticlaryngectomy to remove the supraglottis only
- Hemilaryngectomy to remove half the larynx and preserve the voice
- Partiallaryngectomy to remove part of the larynx and preserve the voice
- Totallaryngectomy to remove the entire larynx, followed by tracheostomy
- Thyroidectomy to remove all or part of the thyroid gland
- Lasersurgery to make bloodless cuts in tissue or remove a surface lesion such as a tumor
About Cancer of the Larynx
Located just below the pharynx (throat), the larynx contains the vocal cords, which vibrate and make sound when air is directed against them.
Most laryngeal cancers form in squamous cells, the thin, flat cells that line the inside of the larynx.