A thorough and accurate cancer diagnosis is the first step in developing a throat cancer treatment plan. Our throat cancer experts use a wide range of tools and technologies designed for diagnosing throat cancer and evaluating the disease with an emphasis on speed to care and timely results. Within the first two days of your arrival at our hospital, we will perform a complete array of diagnostic tests, and thoroughly review your medical records and health history. Your doctor will also likely conduct a physical exam. This information helps us formulate treatment recommendations tailored to you and your needs.
The tests you may undergo include those listed below.
Biopsy
A sample of throat tissues or cells is required for a biopsy, which must be conducted before treatment begins. The types of biopsies typically used for diagnosing throat and other head and neck cancers are:
Incisional biopsy: In this procedure, a small piece of tissue is cut from an abnormal-looking area. Because the larynx is deep inside the neck, removing samples involves a complex procedure. Biopsies in this region are usually performed in an operating room, with general anesthesia administered to prevent pain.
Fine needle aspiration (FNA): Here, a very thin needle attached to a syringe is used to extract (aspirate) cells from a tumor or lump.
Imaging tests
Various imaging tests may be performed to help formulate a throat cancer diagnosis, including:
CT scan: A CT scan may provide information about the size, shape, and position of any tumors, and may also help identify enlarged lymph nodes that may contain cancer cells.
Barium swallow: A barium swallow test may show irregularities in the different parts of the throat, and may often detect small, early tumors.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Less commonly, an MRI scan may be used to examine throat cancer. MRIs provide a very detailed view and may help determine whether or not cancer has spread, either to other areas in the neck or other regions of the body.
Positron emission tomography (PET): For patients diagnosed with throat cancer, a PET scan may be used to see if cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, to determine the origin of cancer when it is found in the lymph nodes first, or to check the body for the spread of cancer cells.
X-ray: An X-ray of the chest may be taken to check if cancer has spread to the lungs. Cancer will not be present in the lungs unless it has advanced.
Other diagnostic procedures
Other diagnostic procedures for throat cancer evaluations often involve some type of scope used to inspect the deeper areas of the throat. For example:
Panendoscopy: This is a diagnostic test used to examine the upper digestive system, including the larynx, esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine. In this exam, an individual is given general anesthesia in an operating room so that the entire region of the body can be closely inspected for cancer. Endoscopes are used to look at the back of the throat, larynx, esophagus, and possibly the windpipe (trachea) and bronchi. Other parts of your nose, mouth, and throat, including the trachea (windpipe) and esophagus, are also examined during this procedure. The doctor performing the procedure will look for any visible signs of a tumor. Doctors may use a special instrument through the scope of biopsy pieces of tissue that look potentially cancerous.
Laryngoscopy: For this procedure, your doctor may spray your nose or the back of your throat with numbing medicine to avoid pain. Because throat cancers are close to other areas of the head and neck, your doctor may also examine your mouth, nose, and neck.
Pharyngoscopy: Like with a laryngoscopy, the doctor may use a spray to numb the back of your throat. Because pharyngeal cancer raises the risk for other head and neck cancers, your doctor will also examine the mouth, tongue, larynx, and neck for signs of abnormalities.
