Man gets hypopharyngeal cancer because of habit that many people know is harmful but hard to quit

Going to the doctor due to symptoms of cough and feeling lymph nodes in the left neck area, the man received the result of late-stage hypopharyngeal cancer.

Symptoms of cough and swollen lymph nodes warn of hypopharyngeal cancer

Recently, MEDLATEC General Hospital received and examined a case of invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx. The patient is Mr. D.XT (55 years old, in Hung Yen ).

Mr. T came to the clinic because he had symptoms of difficulty swallowing on one side for about a month, along with cough, sore throat, and palpable lymph nodes on the left side of the neck. Medical history revealed that the patient had a habit of drinking alcohol and smoking 30 packs of cigarettes/year.

Endoscopic image of the ear, nose and throat shows a tumor of unknown nature in the left hypopharynx.

Endoscopic image of the ear, nose and throat shows a tumor of unknown nature in the left hypopharynx.

Through examination, the doctor discovered groups of lymph nodes in the left neck area, hard, firm, immobile, with the largest size measured at about 30x30mm. ENT endoscopy showed a tumor of unknown nature in the left hypopharynx. Ultrasound and MRI results confirmed a tumor in the left pharyngeal wall, suspected to originate from the left pyriform sinus, pressing and invading the surrounding area. Abnormal lymph nodes also appeared on both sides of the neck, predominantly on the left side.

MRI results confirmed a tumor in the left pharyngeal wall, suspected to originate from the left piriform sinus, pressing and invading the surrounding area.

Tumor biopsy showed tumor tissue with large, basal-like cells arranged in clusters, with areas of keratinization and necrosis.

Based on clinical and paraclinical diagnostic results, the doctor concluded that the patient had invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx, stage T3N2bMx (late stage).

With this result, the patient was transferred for treatment.

Decoding hypopharyngeal cancer

Dr. Nguyen Phuong Dung - ENT specialist, MEDLATEC General Hospital said that hypopharyngeal cancer is a disease originating from the hypopharyngeal region, most commonly in the piriform sinus area. When the tumor spreads to the larynx, it is called hypopharyngeal-laryngeal cancer. This is the second type of cancer in the group of ear-nose-throat cancers, after nasopharyngeal cancer. The disease is common in men aged 45-65 with a male/female ratio of 5/1.

Hypopharyngeal cancer often develops silently over a long period of time with symptoms appearing slowly, including: swallowing disorders (difficulty swallowing, difficulty swallowing gradually increasing, first on one side then spreading to both sides of the throat); persistent sore throat, increasing gradually, possibly accompanied by earache; swollen lymph nodes in the neck (hard, firm, limited mobility, painless). In the late stages, patients show signs of weight loss, difficulty breathing and hoarseness due to the tumor invading the larynx and nerves.

The incidence of hypopharyngeal cancer increases with smoking level.

According to Dr. Dung, the cause of hypopharyngeal cancer has not been clearly identified, but there are some notable risk factors such as:

• Smoking: The incidence of hypopharyngeal cancer increases with the level of smoking;
• Drinking alcohol: Alcohol irritates the throat lining, increasing the risk of disease;
• Poor oral hygiene causes commensal bacteria to thrive, causing chronic inflammation in the throat area. Prolonged inflammation is a favorable factor for hypopharyngeal cancer;
• HPV infection is a risk factor for nasopharyngeal cancer, including hypopharyngeal cancer;
• Chronic irritation of the pharynx due to gastroesophageal reflux;
• Plummer-Vinson syndrome: Characterized by dysphagia, anemia, iron deficiency, and esophageal webs. Associated with increased rates of hypopharyngeal cancer in nonsmoking women in northern European countries;
• Environmental pollution or worker exposure to asbestos or wood dust increases the risk of hypopharyngeal cancer.

Diagnosis of hypopharyngeal cancer requires specialized and precise techniques to determine the location, extent of invasion, and type of cancer cells. Current diagnostic methods include:

• Laryngoscopy – hypopharyngoscopy: Helps determine the location, size and characteristics of the tumor, and takes a biopsy sample from the tumor for histopathological testing.
• Computed tomography (CT scan): This method helps to accurately assess the location, size, spread of the tumor, the degree of invasion of surrounding tissues and distant lesions; assess the number and size of neck lymph nodes.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Is a useful tool in assessing the extent of tumor spread, especially in cases where the tumor invades surrounding soft tissues and organs.
• Pathology and biopsy: Biopsy is the gold standard in diagnosing cancer. A tissue sample taken from the tumor is analyzed under a microscope to determine the type of cancer cells, the malignancy, and the degree of invasion. This method allows the doctor to accurately determine the type of cancer and prescribe a specific treatment plan.

Proactive screening – the golden key to preventing cancer

Recognizing risk factors and implementing early diagnostic methods are extremely important in detecting and treating hypopharyngeal cancer promptly and effectively. Dr. Dung recommends that people in the high-risk group (from 45 to 65 years old, with the habit of smoking, drinking alcohol, etc.), or having any unusual symptoms suspected to be related to hypopharyngeal cancer, should proactively go to reputable medical facilities for screening at least once a year.

The NBI integrated flexible endoscope system can detect abnormal proliferation of superficial and very superficial microvascular systems right in the mucosal layer, helping doctors diagnose early cancer risks for patients.

To make cancer no longer a threat to your health and life and that of your loved ones, MEDLATEC Healthcare System is a trusted address that you can completely trust to choose for screening and early detection of cancer diseases. Because MEDLATEC possesses the following outstanding advantages:

• Nearly 30 years of experience in the medical field, with a team of leading experts in Oncology;
• The first medical unit in Vietnam to meet the American testing quality standards (CAP) and simultaneously implement two international testing certificates CAP, ISO 15189:2012;
• Providing over 2,000 test categories with full range of diagnostic techniques from basic to advanced with advanced technology and modern equipment system;
• The NBI integrated flexible endoscope system can detect abnormal proliferation of superficial and very superficial microvascular systems right in the mucosal layer, helping doctors diagnose early cancer risk for patients;
• Providing modern diagnostic imaging techniques such as MRI, CT scan, MRI, ultrasound and digital X-ray, ensuring high accuracy in early detection of abnormalities;
• Receive personalized advice from experts and doctors if abnormal signs are detected, and support in connecting with upper-level medical facilities to serve the treatment process;
• Professional and scientific examination process, helping to save maximum time and effort for people.

For any questions, hotline 1900 56 56 56 is always ready to answer and support customers as quickly as possible.

Source: https://medlatec.vn/tin-tuc/nguoi-dan-ong-mac-ung-thu-ha-hong-vi-thoi-quen-nhieu-nguoi-biet-hai-nhung-kho-bo