Cancer of the larynx: correlation of clinical characteristics, site of origin, stage, histology and diagnostic delay.

The authors studied the records of 108 cases of cancer of the larynx registered at the Department of Otolaryngology--Clinics Hospital--Faculty of Medicine of University of São Paulo, from 1985 to 1995. Dysphonia was the most common symptom observed (85.2%), independently of the site of the tumor. Dysphagia, dyspnea and weight loss had a similar incidence (32.4%; 34.3%; and 29.6%, respectively), with dysphagia more frequent in tumors which affected the supraglottis and dyspnea in glottic and subglottic tumors. As to staging, 45.8% presented at stage IV at the first consultation, and only 13.5% at stage I. No association was observed between tumor size (according to the TNM classification), presence of lymph node involvement, and delay, in diagnosis, taking the period between the beginning of symptoms and the first consultation at the hospital. In relation to the presenting symptom those with dysphonia sought medical help later. There was no correlation between histological invasion and tumor stage. It was concluded that the stage at presentation of tumors of the larynx is possibly more related to intrinsic differences in the tumor's aggressiveness and in host characteristics than to the diagnostic delay, and that it is necessary to warn the population about symptoms which may suggest the presence of cancer of the larynx.