Laryngeal Cancer
Laryngeal cancer - cancer of the voice box -
is generally found in people who smoke and drink
excessively and is far more common in men than
women. A common symptom is persistent hoarseness.
Penn Center for Voice physicians are members of
the Joan Karnell
Cancer Center at Pennsylvania Hospital. This
affiliation gives you access to a comprehensive
cancer program, enabling you to have the best
treatment options available.
Treatment options include:
- Organ preservation procedures are available
for patients who do not want surgery to remove
the cancerous tumors from their voice box. The
patient is treated with a combination of chemotherapy
and external beam radiation to decrease the
size of the tumor.
- Laser surgery
is used to treat small and medium size tumors.
This procedure allows for precise removal of
the malignant tumor, while keeping the voice
box intact.
- Partial laryngectomy removes the tumor and
the affected area of the larynx. An incision
is made in the neck allowing the larynx to be
opened. The tumor is removed through this opening.
The partial removal of the voice box is reconstructed
with muscle or connective tissue. Penn Center
for Voice at Pennsylvania Hospital surgeons
continue to refine this procedure to leave as
much of the voice box intact.
- Total laryngectomy - complete removal of the
voice box - is generally reserved for more advanced
stages of laryngeal cancer. The Penn Center
for Voice at Pennsylvania Hospital provides
patients the ongoing support, care, and rehabilitation
needed to recover from this procedure.
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