Cancerous tumours of the larynx
A cancerous tumour of the larynx can grow into nearby tissue and destroy it. The tumour can also spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Cancerous tumours are also called malignant tumours.
The most common type of laryngeal cancer is squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) starts in thin, flat cells called squamous cells.
These cells cover the inside of the larynx (called the
There are different types of SCC of the larynx. SCCs of the larynx are classified based on where in the larynx the cancer starts:
- Supraglottic carcinomas start in the top part of the larynx (called the supraglottis), above the vocal cords.
- Glottic carcinomas start in the middle part of the larynx (called the glottis), which contains the vocal cords.
- Subglottic carcinomas start in the bottom of the larynx (called the subglottis), below the vocal cords.
Rare laryngeal tumours
The following cancerous tumours of the larynx are rare.
Plasmacytomas
start in plasma cells, which are a type of white blood cell that makes
Lymphomas start in lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a type of lymphoma that can start in the lymphocytes of the larynx. Find out more about NHL.
Sarcomas start in the cells of the connective tissue that give structure to the larynx (cartilage). Types of sarcoma of the larynx include chondrosarcoma and synovial sarcoma. Sarcomas of the larynx account for less than 1% of laryngeal cancers. Find out more about the types of soft tissue sarcoma.
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