Hypopharyngeal Cancer
Hypopharyngeal cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the
tissues of the hypopharynx.
The hypopharynx is the bottom part of the pharynx (throat). The pharynx is a hollow
tube about 5 inches long that starts behind the nose, goes down the neck, and ends at the
top of the trachea (windpipe) and esophagus (the tube that goes from the throat to the
stomach). Air and food pass through the pharynx on the way to the trachea or the
esophagus.
Risk factors for Hypopharyngeal Cancer
- Smoking tobacco.
- Chewing tobacco.
- Drinking too much alcohol.
- Eating a diet without enough nutrients.
- Having Plummer-Vinson syndrome.
Symptoms of
- A sore throat that does not go away.
- Ear pain.
- A lump in the neck.
- Trouble or pain with swallowing.
- A change in voice.
Diagnosis of Hypopharyngeal Cancer
- Physical exam of the throat: An exam in which the doctor feels for swollen lymph nodes
in the neck and looks down the throat with a small, long-handled mirror to check for
abnormal areas.
- Endoscopy: A procedure used to look at areas in the throat that cannot be seen with a
mirror during the physical exam of the throat. An endoscope (a thin, lighted tube) is
inserted through the nose or mouth to check the throat for anything that seems unusual.
Tissue samples may be taken for biopsy.
- CT scan (CAT scan): A procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside
the body, taken from different angles. The pictures are made by a computer linked to an
x-ray machine. A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or
tissues show up more clearly. This procedure is also called computed tomography,
computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography.
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): A procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves, and a
computer to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. This procedure is
also called nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).
- Head, neck, and chest x-rays: An x-ray of the head, neck, and organs and bones inside
the chest. An x-ray is a type of energy beam that can go through the body and onto film,
making a picture of areas inside the body.
- Barium esophagogram: An x-ray of the esophagus. The patient drinks a liquid that
contains barium (a silver-white metallic compound). The liquid coats the esophagus and
x-rays are taken.
- Esophagoscopy: A procedure to look inside the esophagus to check for abnormal areas. An
esophagoscope (a thin, lighted tube) is inserted through the mouth and down the throat
into the esophagus. Tissue samples may be taken for biopsy.
- Bronchoscopy: A procedure to look inside the trachea and large airways in the lung for
abnormal areas. A bronchoscope (a thin, lighted tube) is inserted through the nose or
mouth into the trachea and lungs. Tissue samples may be taken for biopsy.
- Biopsy: The removal of cells or tissues so they can be viewed under a microscope to
check for signs of cancer.
Treatment of Hypopharyngeal Cancer
Three types of standard treatment are used:
Surgery for Hypopharyngeal Cancer
Surgery (removing the cancer in an operation) is a common treatment for all stages of
hypopharyngeal cancer. The following surgical procedures may be used:
- Laryngopharyngectomy: Surgery to remove the larynx (voice box) and part of the pharynx
(throat).
- Partial laryngopharyngectomy: Surgery to remove part of the larynx and part of the
pharynx. A partial laryngopharyngectomy prevents loss of the voice.
- Neck dissection: Surgery to remove lymph nodes and other tissues in the neck.
Radiation therapy for Hypopharyngeal Cancer
Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy x-rays or other types of
radiation to kill cancer cells. There are two types of radiation therapy. External
radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer.
Internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires,
or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer. The way the radiation
therapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.
Radiation therapy may be more effective in patients who have stopped smoking before
beginning treatment. External radiation therapy to the thyroid or the pituitary gland may
change the way the thyroid gland works. The thyroid gland may be tested before and after
therapy to make sure it is working properly.
Chemotherapy for Hypopharyngeal Cancer
Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells,
either by killing the cells or by stopping the cells from dividing. When chemotherapy is
taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can
reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy). When chemotherapy is
placed directly into the spinal column, an organ, or a body cavity such as the abdomen,
the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas. The way the chemotherapy is given
depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.
Chemotherapy may be used to shrink the tumor before surgery or radiation therapy. This
is called neoadjuvant chemotherapy. |