The larynx has a respiratory and phonatory function (speech production). It allows airflow during breathing, prevents foreign particles from entering the airways and allows voice modulation.
The risk factors for the development of laryngeal cancer are similar to those related with the development of cancers such as mouth and esophagus, with smoking being the main cause.
The patient may initially experience symptoms such as persistent hoarseness, dry cough, pain when swallowing, among others. But these symptoms can also be caused by benign pathologies, thus professional evaluation is needed for a differential diagnosis. Therefore, any persistent symptom should be assessed by a specialist doctor.
