management

Last reviewed 01/2018

Investigations must include careful palpation for metastatic neck nodes and a direct laryngoscopy and biopsy.

Treatment of early stage disease

Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx

• offer transoral laser microsurgery to people with newly-diagnosed T1a squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx
• offer a choice of transoral laser microsurgery or radiotherapy to people with newly-diagnosed T1b-T2 squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx
• offer a choice of transoral surgery or radiotherapy to people with newly-diagnosed T1-T2 squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx

Treatment of advanced disease

Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx

• offer people with T3 squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx a choice of: radiotherapy with concomitant chemotherapy, or surgery with adjuvant radiotherapy, with or without concomitant chemotherapy
• for people with T4a squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx consider surgery with adjuvant radiotherapy, with or without concomitant chemotherapy

Reference:

• NICE (February 2016).Cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract: assessment and management in people aged 16 and over