Clinical examination to screen for laryngeal cancer: results, problems and prospects

The Yokohama Municipal Cancer Detection Center, established as an affiliate of the Yokohama Municipal Citizen's Hospital in June, 1981, has performed clinical examinations to screen for laryngeal cancer in a total of 26,377 patients (12,205 men and 14,172 women) 40 years of age or older, in the past 15 years. Approximately 9.3% (2,398) of the patients required further examination, surgery, or observation. Thirty-one cases of malignant tumor were found, 26 of laryngeal cancer, 2 of hypopharyngeal cancer, and 1 each of thyroid cancer, tonsillar cancer and acute lymphoid leukemia. In addition, 51 cases of vocal fold leukoplakia and approximately 700 cases of vocal fold polyp and polypoid vocal fold were diagnosed. As mentioned in previous reports, examinations of this type present both definite benefits and deficiencies. Many problems still remain. Examples of these are the small absolute numbers of examinees, the rather heavy burden placed upon the examining doctor, and the low incidence of laryngeal cancer in female patients. Laryngeal cancer is predominantly a male disease, but female patients should not be excluded from receiving screening examinations. In recent years, many thyroid tumors have been detected in female patients. In the future, laryngeal cancer examination may develop into a head and neck cancer examination that includes screening for thyroid cancer.