Most cancers of the larynx are a type of cancer called squamous cell carcinomas. Adenoid cystic carcinomas are a different, very rare, type of cancer of the larynx.

These tumours seem to occur equally in men and women. They can happen at any age from the mid-20s to late 70s, but most of the reported cases have been in people between the ages of 40 to 60.

If the cancer develops in the upper part of the larynx it may cause symptoms such as a sore throat, hoarseness or loss of the voice, and difficulty in swallowing. Tumours in the mid and lower part of the larynx usually cause shortness of breath as their main symptom.

Surgery is the preferred treatment, but this type of cancer can be difficult to remove completely. This is because it tends to spread by growing along nearby nerves, and into the surrounding tissue. So, radiotherapy may be given after surgery if there is a risk that not all of the cancer has been removed.

Sometimes adenoid cystic carcinomas of the larynx will spread to nearby lymph glands in the neck or to the lungs.

Usually these cancers seem to be quite slow growing, and even if they spread people may live for some years without any real problems from them.

This is a difficult cancer to cure but even so most people will live for 15 or 20 years after the cancer is diagnosed.

References

• Chummum S et al. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck. British Journal of Plastic Surgery, 2001; 54: 476-480
• Silverman DA et al. Role for postoperative radiation therapy in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck. The Laryngoscope, 2004; 114: 1194-1199
• Bradley PJ. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck: a review. Current Opinion in Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery. 2004; 12: 127-132.