Precancerous conditions of the larynx
Precancerous conditions of the larynx are changes to laryngeal cells that make them more likely to develop into cancer. These conditions are not yet cancer. But if they arenʼt treated, there is a chance that these changes will become laryngeal cancer.
The most common precancerous condition of the larynx is dysplasia. Dysplasia means that cells look different from normal cells in size, shape and organization within the tissue.
The World Health Organization (WHO) categorizes dysplasia into either low grade or high grade.
Low-grade dysplasia means that some of the cells within the tissue look abnormal. These cells may look like cancer cells.
High-grade dysplasia
means that some of the cells within the tissue look very abnormal. There is a higher
chance that high-grade dysplasia turns into a very early stage of cancer called
Risk factors
The following risk factors increase your chance of developing dysplasia:
- smoking tobacco
- drinking alcohol
Symptoms
The symptoms of dysplasia include:
- a hoarse voice
- a weak voice or voice that tires easily
Diagnosis
If you have symptoms or your doctor thinks you might have dysplasia, you will be sent for tests. Tests used to diagnose dysplasia include:
Treatments
Treatment options for dysplasia include:
Your trusted source for accurate cancer information
With support from readers like you, we can continue to provide the highest quality cancer information for over 100 types of cancer.
We’re here to ensure easy access to accurate cancer information for you and the millions of people who visit this website every year. But we can’t do it alone.
Every donation helps fund reliable cancer information, compassionate support services and the most promising research. Please give today because every contribution counts. Thank you.