Imaging Recommendations for Diagnosis, Staging and Management of Larynx and Hypopharynx Cancer

Abstract

We discussed the imaging recommendations for diagnosis, staging, and management of larynx and hypopharynx cancer. Carcinoma of the larynx is a common cancer, with males being affected more. Hypopharyngeal carcinoma is less common than laryngeal malignancies. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common histological type. Nonsquamous cell malignant lesions are rare and mostly submucosal lesions. Clinical examination and endoscopy play an integral role in its detection and staging. Imaging also plays a major role in its staging, including local disease extent, nodal and distant metastatic status, as well as to assess response to therapy. Follow-up of treated cases and differentiation of recurrence from post treatment changes can be done on imaging. Early stage disease is treated with single modalities such as radiotherapy or surgery. Advanced disease is treated with multimodality of either chemoradiotherapy or surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy.