Initial symptoms, such as lethargy, depression, weight gain, thirst, polyuria, weakness, hirsutism and easy bruising, may be nonspecific and insidious. Patients develop central obesity, rounded face, facial plethora and fat deposits on the neck and shoulders. Conversely, there is wasting and myopathy of the limbs plus thinning and increased fragility of the skin. Associated conditions include diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia and osteoporosis. The larynx is the second most common site of head and neck cancers, exceeded in frequency only by cancers of the oral cavity.
Most laryngeal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, and the most common site is the glottis.
Patients with glottic cancers usually present early because of hoarseness and have an excellent prognosis because of the low rate of lymphatic spread. Patients with other laryngeal cancers have a poorer prognosis because of the rich lymphatic drainage of the subglottic and supraglottic areas. Stridor and hemoptysis are usually late symptoms in all laryngeal cancers. Partial laryngectomy or laser excision may achieve local control of up to 95 percent of early laryngeal cancers while preserving laryngeal function. Radiation may be used as an alternative or adjunctive treatment.