The larynx, also called the voice box, is used to breathe, talk or swallow. Most cancers begin on the vocal cords. These tumors are seldom painful, but they almost always cause hoarseness or other changes in the voice.
Symptoms
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Frequent choking on food
- Persistent cough
- Weight loss
Diagnosis
Your physician will conduct a thorough physical exam and review your medical history. The doctor may also look inside the larynx using indirect laryngoscopy or direct laryngoscopy. Indirect larynogoscopy enables the doctor to look down the throat with a small, long mirror to check for abnormal areas and to see whether the vocal cords vibrate as they should. Direct larynogoscopy allows a doctor to insert a lighted tube through the patient's nose or mouth to look at areas that cannot be seen with a mirror.
If the physician notices abnormal areas, he or she may recommend that you have a biopsy to remove tissue samples and study them under a microscope. The physician may also recommend X-rays, a CT scan or MRI scan. A CT enables many X-rays to be taken at once, and a computer puts them together to create a detailed picture of the inside of the body. The MRI scan produces pictures using a huge magnet linked to a computer.
Source: National Cancer Institute