How is vocal cord cancer diagnosed?

The diagnosis can be made in different ways. In the case of particularly advanced growth, the tumors can sometimes be identified by palpation. Another possibility is laryngoscopy.

Here, the location and exact size of the tumor can usually be better determined and a tissue sample can be taken to confirm the suspected diagnosis histologically (with a microscope by a pathologist in the laboratory). Other diagnostic methods are CT (computed tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). These methods are particularly good at determining whether the tumor has grown into other tissues in the vicinity or whether metastases are already present in other organs.

How is cancer of the vocal cord treated?

The therapy of choice for vocal cord cancer is surgery, as only surgery can lead to complete recovery. So as long as the patient is operable, i.e. there is nothing to be said against surgery, he should be operated on. The type of surgery depends on how advanced the disease is already.

However, the operation has many risks. For example, the patient may lose his or her voice. In order to restore the voice, a speech therapist can either replace it with an “esophageal voice”.

There is also the possibility of inserting a vocal cord prosthesis or using an electronic speech aid.Radiotherapy is another therapeutic option. This can be used as the sole therapy when the tumor has already progressed so far that surgery is no longer possible. In most cases, chemotherapy is then used in addition.

Furthermore, in advanced but still operable stages, radiotherapy can be used in addition to surgery in order to achieve the best possible results and get the tumor completely removed. In very early stages, radiation therapy can also be administered from the inside through the esophagus, which allows the voice to be well preserved. Another therapy option is the targeted therapy with an antibody that is supposed to recognize the cancer cells, called cetuximab.

This antibody is usually used in very advanced tumor growth with daughter ulcers. Cetuximab is usually combined with radiation and chemotherapy. Surgery for vocal cord tumors depends on the stage of the tumor.

There are different forms of surgery. The first form is used for tumors that were detected very early and are therefore still localized. In this case, the tumor is removed endoscopically, i.e. by means of a laser.

Here the larynx can usually be preserved. In the more advanced stages, only open surgery is possible and the larynx usually has to be removed completely. In rare cases a partial removal of the tumor can also be performed.

If the local lymph nodes are also affected, they are also removed during the operation. All lymph nodes in the neck area are removed. The duration of the therapy naturally depends on the type of therapy.

The operation itself does not take long, but it depends on whether the patient needs a voice replacement afterwards and whether complications have occurred. Accompanying radiation or chemotherapy also prolongs the duration of therapy. In these cases, at least one month can be expected. Antibody therapy, if it is effective, can last from several months to years, but must be carried out on an outpatient basis, i.e. the patient does not have to stay in hospital permanently. All in all, the therapy can last between 2 weeks and several years.