Laryngeal cancer is a malignant tumor that develops on
the tissues of the larynx. Cancer occurs when cells become abnormal and divide
without control or order. Some people often refer to laryngeal cancer as throat
cancer.
There are several types of cancers that can develop in
the larynx. About 95% of these cancers develop from squamous cells which make
the outer lining of the larynx. Cancers beginning in this layer of cells are
called squamous cell carcinoma.
Cancers will first form as pre-cancers. Most of these
pre-cancers never develop into actual cancers. They typically go away without
any treatment, especially if the factors that cause pre-cancers(such as smoking)
are terminated.
Some pre-cancers eventually develop into carcinoma in
situ (CIS), which is the earliest form of cancer. In this stage the cancer cells
replace the lining layer but they do not metastasize/spread to deeper areas of
the tissue or to other parts of the body. If CIS is not treated, about 30% will
become a more invasive squamous cell cancer that can spread to other tissues and
risk other parts of the body from being affected by it.
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