Pharyngeal Cancer

Pharyngeal Cancer - Cancer that begins in the tissues of the pharynx (or throat). The pharynx is the hollow muscular tube that starts behind the nose, goes down the neck, and ends at the top of the trachea (windpipe) and esophagus. Also known as throat cancer, pharyngeal cancer can develop in the nasopharynx (the upper part of the throat behind the nose), the oropharynx (the middle part of the throat), or the hypopharynx (the bottom part of the throat). Most pharyngeal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, which form in the epithelial cells lining the throat. Some common risk factors for pharyngeal cancer include tobacco use, alcohol consumption, age, and gender (pharyngeal cancer occurs more often in men).

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