Many people often have unpleasant symptoms associated with the throat, namely, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, tickling. Basically, these symptoms are associated with a cold, provoked by viruses or bacteria. However, if these disorders are observed for a long time and do not go away, then you need to urgently visit a doctor, as these may be symptoms of a laryngeal tumor.
Disease feature
Symptoms and photos of a laryngeal tumor clearly indicate a pathology. Since the tumor is a combination of neoplasms affecting the trachea, pharynx, as well as the surrounding tissues and skin. According to statistics, this disease is quite common.
It is possible to reduce the likelihood of developing a tumor by prophylaxis. To do this, you need to abandon smoking, alcohol consumption. In addition, you need to consume healthy and wholesome foods. Basically, men suffer from pathology and women and children are much less likely to get sick.
This disease poses a direct threat to life, therefore it is important to carry out treatment that will help reduce the activity of tumor growth or completely get rid of it.
Main classification
Doctors distinguish such types of tumors as:
- non-keratinized;
- keratinizing;
- highly differentiated.
Non-keratinized cancer progresses rather quickly and many metastases are formed. The neoplasm grows over time in adjacent tissues. Usually a tumor affects the upper part of the organ. The non-cornified form of cancer leads to a strong narrowing of the lumen of the larynx, which provokes the occurrence of shortness of breath and loss of voice.
The keratinized type of cancer is characterized by the presence of malignant cells, which gradually turn into keratinized. This type of disease does not develop very quickly compared to others. In this case, metastases practically do not appear. Often tumors with keratinized cells are located only in the area of the vocal cords.
With a highly differentiated type of malignant neoplasm, a gradual involvement of nearby healthy tissues in the ongoing pathological process is observed. Treatment of this type of disease is quite laborious and takes a long time.
Stages of the disease
With the development of a cancerous tumor, the progression of pathology, the patient's well-being gradually worsens. Oncologists distinguish such stages of the development of cancer as:
- zero;
- the first;
- the second;
- the third;
- the fourth.
The zero stage of tumor formation in the nasopharynx is detected by doctors quite rarely. The thing is that at this stage of tumor development, the symptomatology is weak, so the patient does not pay any attention to them at first.
At the initial stage of tumor development, the ongoing inflammation affects a small area of the throat, so the patient does not experience any discomfort. The prognosis for the cure of malignant neoplasms at the initial stage of the course of the disease can be quite positive and is approximately 95-100%.
The first stage of development of cancer of the throat has quite characteristic signs, which include:
- burning in the throat when swallowing food, saliva, when talking;
- sensation of a foreign object;
- the tumor gradually increases in size, spreading even beyond the larynx.
Despite the rather rapid progression of the laryngeal tumor, the symptoms are not too pronounced. In this case, the neoplasm does not extend to adjacent tissues, metastasis is also not observed. The prognosis is quite positive at more than 75%.
In the second stage, signs such as:
- the tumor begins to go beyond the area of the throat;
- the patient feels hoarseness;
- disturbances in the functioning of the speech apparatus occur.
In the second stage, metastases are also not yet formed. The survival prognosis in this case is approximately 70%.
The obvious symptoms of a laryngeal tumor appear already at the third stage of the course of the disease. At this stage, the neoplasm is actively spreading to adjacent tissues, significant deviations and pathological disorders in the functioning of the vocal cords. In addition, the patient is constantly worried about such signs and symptoms as:
- hoarseness;
- discomfort in the pharynx;
- painful dry cough;
- constant sensation of a foreign object in the throat;
- soreness even when swallowing saliva;
- the patient may even stop talking after a while.
The survival prognosis in this case is approximately 50%. In the last fourth stage of a laryngeal tumor, the symptoms become more pronounced and appear as:
- severe pain when swallowing;
- loss of voice;
- coughing
- a significant increase in tumor size.
The survival prognosis in this case is rather low and amounts to approximately 25%. It is important to recognize the presence of pathology and conduct an examination, subsequent treatment.
Causes of occurrence
Before determining the symptoms of a tumor in the larynx and pharynx, you need to know the exact reasons for this disease. The tumor itself is not so dangerous. A much greater danger is the rapid division of pathogenic cells and the defeat of adjacent organs and tissues. Without exposure to extraneous provoking factors, throat cancer develops quite rarely. Often, diseases are preceded by characteristic symptoms and manifestations of a laryngeal tumor. The cause of cancer can be such as:
- frequent and prolonged inflammatory infections of the nasopharynx;
- fibroids and cysts of the throat;
- papillomas;
- scars formed after injuries of the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx.
To the category of people with an increased risk of tumor formation, people should be assigned:
- ignoring the rules of oral hygiene;
- alcohol abuse;
- with many years of experience for smokers;
- with untreated chronic diseases of the throat;
- with a genetic predisposition to the development of a tumor in the throat;
- over 60 years old.
In addition, the disease can develop in people who work in hazardous industries, as well as in contact with chemicals. A provoking factor may also be the consumption of a large number of smoked meats, spicy foods.
Main symptoms
Symptoms and manifestations of a laryngeal tumor do not appear immediately, but develops over many months and even years. People often do not notice unpleasant symptoms, but seek the help of a doctor only when the disease becomes incurable.
Symptoms of a malignant tumor of the larynx, even in the initial stages, can be recognized. An exception to this rule is only the zero stage, that is, precancerous. In this case, the pathological changes occurring in the tissues do not manifest themselves in any way at all and can be detected only with a random diagnostic study of the respiratory system.
At the earliest stages of the course of the disease and with a benign tumor of the larynx, the symptoms do not particularly manifest. The patient is usually bothered by pain, pain, sore throat, dry, harsh cough. Very often, such symptoms are perceived by patients as simply symptoms of a cold.
However, unlike respiratory diseases, they are constantly observed and do not pass after a while, but only increase. It is important to note that the pain in a throat tumor does not disappear after the use of painkillers, but coughs after antitussive drugs.
Since smokers are often ill with throat cancer, they often attribute a strong choking cough to the side effects of smoking. Initially, it is episodic, but gradually becomes permanent. Other symptoms of a throat and larynx tumor should include:
- low-grade fever;
- numbness of part of the face;
- anemia;
- intradermal hemorrhages;
- swelling of the lymph nodes.
As the disease progresses further, many other symptoms also appear. This can be a constant hoarseness of the voice, a deterioration in taste, difficulty in swallowing, and bleeding from the mouth. If the neoplasm is large, then it can interfere with normal breathing, and also cause bleeding.
Symptoms and manifestations of a laryngeal tumor in women are expressed in the appearance of severe headaches, soreness in the ears and neck, and hearing and sleep impairment. Blood or pus may be released from the nose. General health worsens, irritability appears. The neoplasm becomes visible from the outside due to the formation of a characteristic swelling on the neck. In especially severe cases, a person loses the ability to open and close his mouth normally.
These symptoms of swelling of the throat and larynx indicate a severely advanced disease. It is at this stage that most patients turn to the doctor. Depending on the location of the neoplasm, the symptoms may vary slightly.
Diagnostics
When the first symptoms and signs of a laryngeal tumor appear, you need to visit a doctor for diagnosis. Initially, you need to fully probe the entire neck area. If the tumor is very large, then its deformation and slight displacement of the cartilage occurs. A fairly large rounded formation can be determined, having a dense consistency with smooth edges. It hurts when touched. To determine the presence of a tumor yourself, you need:
- consistently press on the thyroid cartilage with the ode and the other side and shift it slightly;
- Normally, a fairly characteristic crunch should appear;
- its absence may indicate the presence of a laryngeal tumor.
In the presence of symptoms of a malignant tumor of the throat and larynx, laboratory research methods may additionally be required, despite the fact that they are not sufficiently informative. An increase in ESR and white blood cell count indicates inflammation.
A doctor can make a diagnosis after an indirect laryngoscopy. The main advantages of conducting such a study are such as:
- rapidity;
- lack of patient preparation;
- Cancer can be detected immediately.
If the tumor is small, then direct laryngoscopy, which is performed using a laryngoscope, which helps to fully examine the larynx, may be required. However, after the procedure, complications in the form of spasm of the vocal cords may occur.
Fibrolaryngoscopy involves examining the larynx with a flexible optical device equipped with a light source and a video camera. With it, you can well examine all parts of the larynx, and a similar research technique allows you to do a biopsy. However, when it is held there is a chance of injury to the ligaments.
Radiography of the neck in two projections is very popular, as it meets such requirements as:
- rapidity;
- lack of discomfort;
- the ability to evaluate tumor growth;
- small exposure;
- high speed;
- accuracy and good visualization;
- no discomfort.
All these methods have high diagnostic significance, however, an accurate diagnosis can only be made after a biopsy.
It is worth noting that there are no exact signs of a laryngeal tumor, which is why the disease can be confused with other pathologies, in particular such as:
- laryngitis;
- tuberculosis;
- most diseases of the lungs and bronchi.
Symptoms of laryngitis are similar to cancer and manifest as shortness of breath, hoarseness, weakness, fever. The main difference is pain or sore throat, which does not happen in the initial stages of a malignant tumor. To distinguish cancer from tuberculosis, fluorography is sufficient.
Treatment features
To eliminate the symptoms of a benign tumor of the throat and larynx, to cure the disease and prevent its transition to the malignant stage, surgery is required. Its methods are largely dependent on the type of tumor. In particular, may be assigned:
- endoscopic operations - removal of the tumor with special forceps or loops;
- excision of the neoplasm together with the membrane with preliminary removal of the contents;
- removal of pathologically altered sections of the mucosa;
- excision of the tumor and subsequent diathermocoagulation, treatment with liquid nitrogen or laser irradiation;
- occlusion of vessels that feed the tumor.
With a malignant tumor of the larynx, the symptoms and manifestations in women and men are more pronounced. To cure cancer, a more thorough treatment is required, which includes:
- an operation;
- radiation therapy;
- chemotherapy.
Treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx usually begins with radiation, since this type of tumor is most sensitive to radiotherapy. Radiation therapy consists in influencing the genetic structures of malignant cells with high-frequency radiation that inhibits the division process. A similar technique slows the growth of the neoplasm or completely destroys it. With stage 3 cancer of the larynx, the entire neck is irradiated to reduce the size of the tumor, and after 2 weeks it is removed along with part of the larynx or the entire organ with metastases.
The main types of operations are such as:
- laryngeal resection is an organ-preserving operation that is effective in stages 1 and 2 of the disease;
- total laryngectomy - removal of the entire larynx with adjacent tissues;
- hemilaryngectomy - removal of a part of the larynx affected by a tumor;
- chorectomy - excision of one or both vocal cords.
Recently, laser removal of the tumor has gained great popularity. This is a new and highly effective technique for the removal of malignant neoplasms. Laser surgery has several advantages, as it is easily tolerated by patients, does not provoke pain and discomfort. In addition, it has a short rehabilitation period and the absence of postoperative complications.
Chemotherapy complements radiation exposure and surgery. Patients are prescribed cytostatics, which help suppress tumor growth and inhibit cancer cells. These drugs are administered intramuscularly, orally, intravenously or directly into the affected organ. Chemotherapy is effective only for cancer of the upper larynx. It has many side effects and requires additional treatment to recover.
Diet therapy and folk remedies
When the first symptoms of a laryngeal tumor in women and men appear, treatment should be carried out immediately to prevent a transition to a more complex and dangerous stage. Non-traditional remedies may be an addition to traditional treatment. Apply traditional methods only after consulting with your doctor. Pretty fruitful will be fruit juice, tincture of bay leaf, tincture or broth of spotted shoe.
Patients are advised to consume mainly plant foods, which consists of fruits, vegetables, berries, herbs, beans. You can include dietary meat and vegetable fats in your usual diet. Lactic acid products with a minimum shelf life are very useful.
Strong tea and coffee, smoked meats, pickles, carbonated drinks, and canned foods should be excluded from your diet. Sugar is best replaced with honey. Servings should be small, and meals fractional. Chew food thoroughly.
Forecast
If it was possible to timely recognize the symptoms of the disease laryngeal tumor, then there is a high probability that the disease will be able to defeat. Five-year survival in patients with cancer in the first stage is 85%.
In patients with stage 4 pathology, five-year survival is less than 20%. Much depends on whether the patient agrees to the removal of the larynx and vocal cords, as this can lead to complete dumbness of the person.
Prophylaxis
Throat cancer is the disease of those who abuse alcohol and smoke. That is why the rejection of bad habits significantly reduces the likelihood of a disease.
Other risk factors include non-compliance with oral hygiene, as well as the constant inhalation of concertogenic substances. In older men, the disease is quite common, which is why people who are at risk need to monitor hygiene and avoid manipulations associated with toxins. When working with carcinogens, respiratory protection devices must be used.
In addition, it is worth remembering that early diagnosis of the disease significantly increases the likelihood of a successful cure.