Laryngeal cancer: diagnosis and preoperative work-up.

Laryngeal carcinoma is the eleventh-most common form of cancer among men worldwide and is the second-most common malignancy of the head and neck. The primary functions of the larynx involve phonation, respiration, and deglutition but it also contributes to taste and smell by allowing the movement of air over the special sense organs. Thus, loss of laryngeal function affects speech and swallowing and some of the senses that allow us to enjoy the world. Moreover, total laryngectomy bypasses the critical humidification function of the upper aerodigestive tract that renders pulmonary toiletry problematic for these patients. With relatively little change in mortality since the 1970s, recent research has focused not only on improving survival but on laryngeal preservation modalities.