Epidemiological Profile of Larynx Cancer at a Tertiary Care Center in Faridkot, Punjab, India

Introduction: Head and neck cancer constitutes about 5 to 50% among all the cancers found in the world. In India, head and neck cancer constitutes about 30% of all the cancers, and laryngeal cancer is the second among all head and neck cancers. A high percentage of laryngeal cancers have been linked to tobacco and alcohol use. Smoking is considered as a major risk factor for laryngeal carcinoma, with alcohol use having synergistic effect. The purpose of our study is to highlight the incidence according to age and sex, site of distribution, risk factors involved, and clinical stage at presentation of the laryngeal cancer. Materials and methods: It is a cross-sectional study conducted from January 2014 to November 2014. Patients in the age group 21 to 70 years, of either gender, with a histologically proven malignancy of larynx presenting to the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) outpatient department were enrolled in the study. Patients were observed for age and sex distribution, tumor staging, location and metastasis, commonly associated risk factors, and most common site involved by the disease. Results: Laryngeal cancers are seen more commonly in males than females. It is seen most commonly in the age group of 51 to 60 years. Supraglottis is the commonest site involved. Synergistic history of smoking and alcohol intake was the most significant risk factor associated. T1 and T2 is the most common primary T stage. Neck metastasis occurs most commonly at N2 stage. The most commonly involved lymph node level is level 2. Conclusion: We conclude that laryngeal cancers most commonly involve supraglottic region, present at advanced age with synergistic smoking and alcohol intake being the most common risk factor involved, and mostly presents with advanced neck metastasis due to late case presentation, subsequently decreasing the 5-year survival rate by about 50%. Hence, there is a great need to create awareness about the signs and symptoms of laryngeal cancers, especially among local doctors practicing in villages so that the patients can be referred to a qualified ENT doctor as soon as possible.