Overview

What Is Larynx Cancer?

Larynx (laryngeal) cancer is a disease in which cancerous cells form in the tissues of the larynx.

The larynx (the voice box) is the organ that generates the voice. It has a rigid external housing made up of cartilages and contains the vocal cords which vibrate to produce sound.

The vocal cords are located in a part of the larynx, referred to as the glottic larynx. The part of the larynx above the vocal cord is called the supraglottic larynx while the portion below is called the subglottic larynx.

 Types of larynx cancer include:

• Glottic cancer: Cancer that forms in the vocal cords
• Supraglottic cancer: Cancer that forms above the vocal cords
• Subglottic cancer: Cancer that forms below the vocal cords

The clinical behavior and prognosis of these types of cancer can be different. Most larynx cancers form in squamous cells (thin, flat cells) lining the inside of the larynx.