The Larynx
Also called laryngeal cancer, cancer of the larynx usually begins in the glottis, one of the three parts that make up the larynx. The glottis is the middle potion of the larynx, and houses the vocal cords. The top portion of the larynx is the supraglottis and the bottom portion is the subglottis. The walls of the larynx are made of squamous cells. When these cells multiply abnormally, they cause larynx cancer.
Stages
Like other cancers, larynx cancer is broken down into four stages. Stage 0 indicates that abnormal cells have been found in the lining of the larynx, but are considered to be pre-cancerous. This means that the cells could become cancerous. In Stage I, larynx cancer cells have been identified, but are limited to one of the three parts of the larynx. Stage II larynx cancer means that cancerous cells have spread to other parts of the larynx. Tissues around each component are found to be cancerous and the vocal cords most likely do not move normally.
In Stage III, the cancer is defined by the areas to which it has spread, and has several possible outcomes. The cancer may be limited to the larynx and may or may not affect one or both vocal cords. Cancer may have also spread to the lymph nodes on the side of the larynx near the original cancer site, causing tumors lass than 3 cm in size. Stage IV larynx cancer is subdivided into three distinct stages: Stage IVA, Stage IVB and Stage IVC. Stage IVA means that the cancer has spread from the larynx to the tissues near the larynx, such as the thyroid, trachea and esophagus, as well as the lymph nodes. Vocal cords usually do not function normally at this stage. Stage IVB means that the cancer has spread to the spinal column and the carotid artery. It may also mean that the cancer has moved to the chest. Lymph nodes are affected and are found to have tumors greater than 6 cm in size. In Stage IVC larynx cancer, the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. This is the last and most advanced stage of larynx cancer.
Tags: larynx cancer, means that, cancer spread, cells have, Stage larynx, Stage larynx cancer, Stage Stage