Stage I Laryngeal Cancer

Treatment of stage I laryngeal cancer depends on where cancer is found in the larynx.

If cancer is in the supraglottis, treatment may include the following:

• Radiation therapy.
• Supraglottic laryngectomy.

If cancer is in the glottis, treatment may include the following:

• Radiation therapy.
• Cordectomy.
• Partial laryngectomy, hemilaryngectomy, or total laryngectomy.
• Laser surgery.

If cancer is in the subglottis, treatment may include the following:

• Radiation therapy with or without surgery.
• Surgery alone.

Treatment of stage II laryngeal cancer depends on where cancer is found in the larynx.

If cancer is in the supraglottis, treatment may include the following:

• Radiation therapy.
• Supraglottic laryngectomy or total laryngectomy with or without radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemoprevention.

If cancer is in the glottis, treatment may include the following:

• Radiation therapy.
• Partial laryngectomy, hemilaryngectomy, or total laryngectomy.
• Laser surgery.
• A clinical trial of radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemoprevention.

If cancer is in the subglottis, treatment may include the following:

• Radiation therapy with or without surgery.
• Surgery alone.
• A clinical trial of radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemoprevention.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied. Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Cancer.gov Web site.

Treatment of stage III laryngeal cancer depends on where cancer is found in the larynx.

If cancer is in the supraglottis or glottis, treatment may include the following:

• Surgery with or without radiation therapy.
• Radiation therapy with or without surgery.
• A clinical trial of radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy, with or without laryngectomy.
• A clinical trial of radiosensitizers.
• A clinical trial of chemoprevention.

If cancer is in the subglottis, treatment may include the following:

• Laryngectomy plus total thyroidectomy and removal of lymph nodes in the throat, usually followed by radiation therapy.
• Radiation therapy with or without surgery.
• A clinical trial of radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of radiosensitizers.
• A clinical trial of chemoprevention.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied. Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Cancer.gov Web site.

Treatment of stage IV laryngeal cancer depends on where cancer is found in the larynx.

If cancer is in the supraglottis or glottis, treatment may include the following:

• Total laryngectomy with radiation therapy.
• Radiation therapy with or without surgery.
• A clinical trial of radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy, with or without laryngectomy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of radiosensitizers.
• A clinical trial of chemoprevention.

If cancer is in the subglottis, treatment may include the following:

• Laryngectomy plus total thyroidectomy and removal of lymph nodes in the throat, usually with radiation therapy.
• Radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of radiosensitizers.
• A clinical trial of chemoprevention.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied. Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Cancer.gov Web site.