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🗣️ Laryngeal Cancer Surgery · Voice Preservation Focus

Laryngeal Cancer Surgery &
Voice Preservation

Early Detection. Voice-Preserving Treatment. Multidisciplinary Care. — Expert surgical management of cancer of the larynx (voice box) at KG Hospital, Coimbatore, with a focus on preserving voice and swallowing wherever possible.

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Dr. Prabhakaran U - Surgical Oncologist and Laryngeal Cancer Surgeon at KG Hospital Coimbatore
Dr. Prabhakaran U
Surgical Oncologist &
Head & Neck Cancer Surgeon
KG Hospital · Coimbatore

Understanding Laryngeal Cancer

What is Laryngeal Cancer?

Laryngeal cancer arises in the larynx (voice box) — the structure in the throat responsible for voice production, breathing, and protecting the airway during swallowing. It is strongly linked to smoking and alcohol use, particularly in combination.

The larynx is divided into three regions — the glottis (vocal cords), supraglottis (above the vocal cords), and subglottis (below the vocal cords) — and the location strongly influences both symptoms and treatment choice.

A key advantage in laryngeal cancer is that glottic (vocal cord) tumours often cause hoarseness very early, which frequently leads to prompt diagnosis at a highly curable stage. Dr. Prabhakaran U manages the full spectrum of laryngeal cancer in coordination with ENT surgery and radiation oncology, with voice preservation as a central goal wherever oncologically safe.

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Surgical Oncology Training:
• MCh Surgical Oncology — Regional Cancer Centre (RCC), Trivandrum (2018–2021)
• Experience spanning 1,000+ cancer surgeries across multiple tumour types
• Advanced fellowships across India, China, Singapore, and Thailand

📊 Key Facts — Laryngeal Cancer

  • Strongly linked to smoking and alcohol, especially together
  • Far more common in men than women
  • Early glottic (vocal cord) cancer: 5-year survival over 90%
  • Persistent hoarseness is often the earliest warning sign
  • Voice-preserving treatment is possible in the majority of early-stage cases

Common Symptoms

  • Hoarseness of voice persisting more than 3 weeks — the classic early symptom of glottic cancer
  • Difficulty or pain while swallowing
  • A lump in the neck
  • Persistent sore throat or the sensation of a lump in the throat
  • Referred ear pain
  • Noisy or difficult breathing (stridor) — seen in more advanced disease
  • Unexplained weight loss

⚠️ Do not wait: Hoarseness lasting more than 3 weeks — especially in a smoker or drinker — should be evaluated with a laryngoscopy without delay. Early glottic cancer is highly curable and often treatable with voice preservation.

Staging & Diagnosis

How Laryngeal Cancer is Staged and Diagnosed

Staging

Staging depends on which part of the larynx is involved, vocal cord mobility, and whether the cancer has spread to lymph nodes or beyond:

Stage I

Tumour confined to one subsite, normal vocal cord mobility

5-year survival: over 90%

Stage II

Tumour extends to an adjacent subsite or impairs vocal cord mobility

5-year survival: 70–80%

Stage III

Vocal cord fixation or spread to a single lymph node

5-year survival: 50–60%

Stage IV

Locally advanced or spread beyond the larynx

5-year survival: 30–40%

Diagnosis — What Tests Are Needed?

  • Indirect or flexible laryngoscopy — direct visualisation of the vocal cords and larynx, often done in the clinic
  • Direct laryngoscopy with biopsy — under anaesthesia, to confirm diagnosis and precisely map tumour extent
  • CT or MRI of the neck — assesses depth of invasion, cartilage involvement, and nodal status
  • CT chest — to exclude a second primary tumour or lung spread, particularly relevant given the shared risk factor of smoking
  • Voice and swallowing assessment — establishes a baseline before treatment
  • Multidisciplinary tumour board review — before finalising the treatment plan

Surgical Treatment Options

Surgery for Laryngeal Cancer — Expert Care at KG Hospital

Treatment choice for laryngeal cancer balances cure with preservation of voice and swallowing function. Dr. Prabhakaran performs and coordinates the full range of options:

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Transoral Laser Microsurgery (TLM)

A minimally invasive, voice-preserving technique for early glottic cancer — the tumour is removed through the mouth using a laser, with no external incision.

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Partial Laryngectomy

Removal of part of the larynx while preserving enough structure to maintain voice and swallowing — suitable for selected early and intermediate-stage tumours.

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Total Laryngectomy

Complete removal of the larynx for advanced disease or when organ preservation is not oncologically safe — followed by voice rehabilitation options.

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Neck Dissection

Removal of lymph nodes in the neck when there is nodal spread or a significant risk of microscopic disease, performed alongside the primary tumour surgery.

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Voice Rehabilitation

After total laryngectomy, options include tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) speech, electrolarynx devices, or oesophageal speech — planned with speech therapy.

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Organ Preservation Protocols

For selected advanced cases, chemoradiation may be recommended as an alternative to total laryngectomy, aiming to preserve the larynx while achieving cure.

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Multidisciplinary Head & Neck Cancer Care — KG Hospital, Coimbatore
Every laryngeal cancer case is planned with ENT surgery, radiology, pathology, radiation oncology, and speech therapy to balance cure with the best possible voice and swallowing outcomes.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my voice completely after laryngeal cancer treatment?
Not necessarily. Many early and intermediate-stage cancers are treated with voice-preserving surgery (TLM or partial laryngectomy) or radiotherapy. Total laryngectomy — which does remove the voice box — is reserved for advanced disease, and voice rehabilitation options are available afterward.
Is hoarseness always a sign of cancer?
No — hoarseness has many causes, most of them benign (laryngitis, vocal strain, acid reflux). However, hoarseness lasting more than 3 weeks, especially in a smoker, should always be evaluated with a laryngoscopy to rule out cancer.
What is transoral laser microsurgery?
A minimally invasive technique where early-stage vocal cord tumours are removed through the mouth using a laser, without any external incision. It offers excellent cure rates with good voice preservation and a quick recovery.
Can I speak after a total laryngectomy?
Yes. Speech rehabilitation options include tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) speech — often the most natural-sounding — as well as electrolarynx devices and oesophageal speech, planned together with a speech-language therapist.
Is laryngeal cancer surgery available in Coimbatore?
Yes. Dr. Prabhakaran U manages laryngeal cancer at KG Hospital, Coimbatore, in coordination with ENT surgery and radiation oncology. Call +91 90826 99710 to arrange a consultation and bring your laryngoscopy and biopsy reports.

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Consult Dr. Prabhakaran — Head & Neck Cancer Surgeon

Surgical Oncologist · Voice-Preserving Focus
KG Hospital, Coimbatore

📞 Call +91 90826 99710 ✉️ Email for Appointment