Classification
A pharyngeal carcinoma, colloquially known as throat cancer, is a malignant tumor that is localized in the head and neck region. In a large number of cases, throat cancer originates from the mucous membrane that lines the throat area. The throat (pharynx) begins behind the oral and nasal cavity and extends to the beginning of the oesophagus and trachea.
It can be divided into three sections: Depending on the location of the throat cancer, it is given different names. A malignant tumor in the nasopharynx is called nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Correspondingly, cancer of the oral pharynx is called oropharyngeal carcinoma and cancer of the lower throat is called hypopharyngeal carcinoma.
- Nasopharynx (Nasopharynx or Epipharynx)
- Oral pharynx (oropharynx or mesopharynx)
- Lower terminal portion (hypopharynx)
Symptoms of throat cancer
Unfortunately, throat cancer only leads to symptoms or visible changes in the late stages. Here, a swelling of the cervical lymph nodes becomes palpable and visible. These are already caused by metastases (metastases) of the actual tumor.
Symptoms caused by the tumor itself are only observed in a very advanced stage and can present themselves in different ways depending on the location of the throat cancer. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma can be responsible for restricted nasal breathing or even lead to recurrent nosebleeds. Since impaired nasal breathing also leads to aeration disorders of the inner ear, further symptoms of nasopharyngeal carcinoma are earache and hearing loss.
Cancer of the throat in the region of the mouth pharynx causes sore throats, which can sometimes extend into the ear. Hypopharyngeal carcinomas also cause sore throats. This is accompanied by difficulty swallowing and a lump feeling in the throat.
The difficulty in swallowing can lead to restricted food intake and the associated weight loss. You can find detailed information about this under: Which symptoms indicate throat cancer? The tricky thing about throat cancer is that in the early stages there are often no symptoms.
If the first symptoms appear, the disease is often already well advanced. If the tumor is located more in the upper part of the throat, the first symptoms are often recurring middle ear infections. This is because this is the area of the throat where the Eustachian tubes end, which are important for ventilation of the middle ear.
The disturbance of the ventilation also leads to hearing loss. Pressure equalization is prevented by a tumor that blocks the mouth of the tubes. Bleeding from the nose can also be a sign of a tumor in the upper throat.
If the tumor is located in the middle and lower part of the throat, this often affects speech. Speech sounds as if the patient has a lump in his throat. A tumor in this area can also cause swallowing difficulties, as the path from the mouth to the esophagus is narrowed by the tumor.
This change can feel as if you have a foreign body in your lower throat, but it cannot be removed by coughing or choking. Another symptom of a tumor in the lower throat can be earache. The reason for this untypical radiation into a relatively distant organ is that the same nerve that supplies the lower throat also supplies the middle ear, so the pain can be transmitted to the ear. In throat cancer of any localization, painless swelling of the lymph nodes on the throat is common. throat.
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