Anthony Zeitouni

Throat and larynx

Dr Anthony Zeitouni > Throat and larynx

Pathologies Of The Throat And Larynx

Pathologies can be benign or cancerous

Benign pathologies

  • Dysphagia
  • Dysphonia

Viral

Due to overuse of the track

Laryngopharyngeal reflux

Presbylarynx

Vocal cord nodules and polyps

Neurological pathologies

Cancer pathologies

Laryngeal Cancer

What is laryngeal cancer?
 
Smoking, drinking alcohol, and even acid from your stomach can damage the cells in your larynx. Cells that don’t repair themselves can turn into cancer.
In the larynx, the most common cancers arise in the glottic part. Your voice then becomes hoarse because the cancer is affecting the vocal cords. Supraglottic cancers can also make the voice hoarse. Other symptoms are throat irritation, difficulty swallowing, pain in the ears, or a feeling of a lump in the neck. However, subglottic cancers can grow and spread before they are detected because they often have no symptoms at first.
 

What treatments are available for me?

 

Here is the list of “weapons/treatments” that exist to lead the fight against laryngeal cancer.
Frequently used:
  • Surgery
  • Radiotherapy
Occasionally used:
  • Chemotherapy
Depending on your state of health, the medical team will decide which treatment or combination of treatments they intend to use to win the battle against this cancer.

Oropharyngeal Cancer

Symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer:

This form of cancer can cause one or more of the following symptoms:

• difficulty swallowing or pain when swallowing

• sore throat

• the presence of a mass in the back of the throat

• a change in voice

• ear pain

• masses in the neck

• recent unexplained weight loss.

Risk factors for oropharyngeal cancer:

Risk factors are things that increase a person’s likelihood of developing a disease.

Risk factors can be:

• inherited (for example, a damaged gene that increases the likelihood of cancer)

• environmental (for example, living in an area with severe air pollution)

• lifestyle-related (eg smoking).

Other risk factors include:

• HPV infection;

• chew areca nuts.

Treatments for oropharyngeal cancer:

Most cancers are treated with surgery, radiotherapy (radiation) or chemotherapy, or a combination of these three methods. As each patient and each case is unique, there is no “ideal” treatment method.

Your doctor will prescribe the treatment, or combination of treatments, that is best for you. Your treatment will depend on the stage of your cancer, your level of health and your medical history.

Hypopharyngeal Cancer

Symptoms of hypopharyngeal cancer

Hypopharyngeal cancer can present with a combination of the following symptoms:

  • throat irritation that does not go away;
  • difficulty swallowing or pain when swallowing;
  • a feeling of having something in your throat;
  • acid reflux (heartburn);
  • ear pain;
  • a lump or mass in the neck;
  • a change in voice;
  • weight loss;
  • a cough with blood.

Risk factors for hypopharyngeal cancer

Risk factors are things that increase a person’s likelihood of developing a disease.

Risk factors can be:

  • inherited (for example, a damaged gene that increases the likelihood of cancer);
  • environmental (for example, living in an area with severe air pollution);
  • lifestyle-related (e.g. smoking).

Here are the main risk factors for cancer of the hypopharynx:

  • Male sex: this cancer occurs more frequently in men.
  • African-American origins: people of this ethnic background have a higher risk of having this cancer.
  • Age: over 60 years old.
  • Smoking: the act of smoking or chewing tobacco.
  • Heavy alcohol consumption, especially when combined with smoking: people who smoke and drink heavily have a 100 times higher risk.
  • The papillomavirus.
  • Exposure to asbestos, nickel composites and certain mineral oils.
  • Family history: having a loved one with head or neck cancer.
  • Radiotherapy treatments.
  • A medical history of head or neck cancer.
  • Plummer-Vinson syndrome: a rare disorder linked to dietary deficiencies.