Pharyngeal cancer symptoms & treatment

Cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx account for 3% of cancers diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Pharyngeal cancer, also called throat cancer, is any cancer that affects the pharynx – the hollow, cone-shaped tube between the nose and esophagus. The pharynx is the body’s air and food passageway.Pharyngeal cancer happens when tissues in the throat grow and spread abnormally, destroying healthy cells. It’s a type of oral cavity cancer.

Anatomy of the pharynx

The pharynx is about six inches long, and it extends from the back of the throat to the beginning of the esophagus. The upper portion also sits next to the eustachian tubes, which connect the pharynx to the ears. This close connection with the eustachian tubes explains why people with pharyngeal cancer may feel symptoms in their ears.

Views into the parts of the pharynx

The pharynx is made up of three parts: the nasopharynx at the back section of the nasal cavity, the oropharynx at the back of the oral cavity (soft palate) and the laryngopharynx, which leads down to the esophagus.

What are the six pharyngeal muscles?

The pharynx is made up of mucous membranes, connective tissue, glands, lymphoid tissue and pharyngeal muscles. There are six pharyngeal muscles, which work together to push food into the esophagus:

• Superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle
• Middle pharyngeal constrictor muscle
• Inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle
• Palatopharyngeus muscle
• Salpingopharyngeus muscle
• Stylopharyngeus muscle

Symptoms of pharyngeal cancer

Pharyngeal cancer symptoms vary, but one of the first is a painless lump in the upper neck. Other symptoms include:

• Changes in hearing
• Chronic headaches
• Chronic sore throat
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Hoarseness or other voice changes
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or ear pain
• A white patch on your tongue, lining of your mouth or soft palate (muscular area at the back of your mouth) that doesn’t go away

Pharyngeal cancer causes & risk factors

The exact cause of pharyngeal cancer is not known; however, research has shown that:

• It occurs more often in people ages 50-60, but it can occur at any age.
• It affects more men than women.
• Exposure to the Epstein-Barr virus, smoking and heavy alcohol use increase the risk of developing pharyngeal cancer.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, especially HPV-16, increases the chance of getting pharyngeal cancer.

Ways to prevent pharyngeal cancer

In general, practicing healthy habits can reduce your risk of pharyngeal cancer. Specifically, you’ll want to:

• Avoid smoking or using any tobacco products.
• Avoid excessive alcohol use.
• Avoid HPV infection and ask your doctor about the HPV vaccine.
• Eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise.
• See your health care provider and dentist regularly. They can check your mouth and throat and catch any unusual changes.

Diagnosis & treatment of pharyngeal cancer

To diagnose pharyngeal cancer, your doctor will ask about your medical history, smoking history and symptoms. They’ll also examine your ears, nasal cavity, throat and mouth. To look at your pharynx, they’ll place a small lighted mirror and an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a light at the end) into your oral cavity to look at the soft palate and down further into the lower part of your pharynx.

Tests for pharyngeal cancer

They may also order tests, including:

• Barium swallow: A series of X-rays of the esophagus and stomach, also called an esophagogram or upper GI series. It involves drinking a liquid that contains barium (a silver-white metallic compound) that coats the esophagus and stomach, which will show up on X-rays.
• Biopsy: A small piece of pharyngeal tissue is removed and examined in a lab.
• Endoscopy: A thin, lighted tube is inserted through the mouth or nose so a doctor can see inside the body and look for abnormal tissue.
• Fine-needle aspiration biopsy: A thin needle is placed into a lump in the neck. Cells are aspirated (drawn out) and examined under a microscope to see if they’re cancerous.
• Imaging tests: These include CT, MRI or PET scans, and chest or dental X-rays that can help confirm the presence of a tumor and if it’s spread to other areas.

Treatment options for pharyngeal cancer

If you’re diagnosed with pharyngeal cancer, our team of Aurora neurosurgeons will work with you to determine the best treatment options. Treatments may include:

• Chemoradiation, which delivers chemotherapy and radiation therapy at the same time
• Surgery, which is usually recommended only if chemoradiation isn’t effective