What is Laryngeal Cancer?

Laryngeal cancer is cancer or malignancy of the part of the throat called the larynx or voice box. The larynx is made up of three named areas – the vocal cords – the ‘glottis’ and the areas of the throat above and below the vocal cords

– the ‘supraglottis’ and the ‘subglottis’. See illustration below. 1.95% of laryngeal cancers are squamous cell cancers, other cancers are rare. This guidance covers all cancer types except sarcomas. Sarcomas rarely affect the larynx.

Laryngeal cancer is more common in people with the following characteristics or ‘risk factors’:

• Male sex
• Smoking
• High alcohol intake
• Exposure to certain dusts or fumes at work

Incidence and Prevalence

Just over 2000 people are diagnosed with laryngeal cancer each year in the UK. The five year survival of people with laryngeal cancer is relatively good at around 60-70%. This is because laryngeal cancer often causes symptoms early, usually by affecting the voice. It is the sixteenth commonest cancer in men but only affects a few hundred women a year in the UK. There is no screening programme for laryngeal cancer. About 800 people die from the disease every year.

Lower head and neck showing vocal folds. Credit: Miles Kelly Art Library, Wellcome Images

Amended November 2008