Laryngeal cancer

Diagnosis and treatment

In order to detect it, the patient must undergo a medical examination in which the specialist will determine which technique is the most indicated depending on the location and extent of the tumour. The most common are: biopsy with endoscopic methods, direct or indirect laguirondoscopy, ultrasound, CT scan or magnetic resonance.

Surgery types

Among the advances in techniques for treating this type of tumour, the use of minimally invasive techniques allowing transoral tumours resection is particularly noteworthy. Transoral microsurgery with carbonic laser combines the precision and coagulation capacity of the carbonic laser with microscopic control, providing very good oncological and functional results. Its results in early laryngeal tumours are fully comparable to those of external partial surgery, with local control equal to or higher than that achieved by radiation therapy. Hence, transoral microsurgery with laser is currently opted as the first-choice treatment for early laryngeal cancer as it offers more than 90% survival rate at 5 years, as well as the preservation of larynx. The excellent results of this surgery in early tumours have gradually led to the extension of its indications to some tumours considered intermediate and/or locally advanced tumours.

As for the benefits of this type of surgery, Dr. Bernal, highlights the lower morbidity for the patient, a faster functional recovery and the possibility of avoiding tracheotomy to a very high degree.