Throat Cancer Information

What Is Throat Cancer? 

Throat cancer is any cancer that forms in the throat. The throat, also called the pharynx, is a 5-inch-long tube that runs from your nose to your neck. The larynx (voice box) and pharynx are the two main places throat cancer forms. Throat cancer is a type of head and neck cancer, which includes cancer of the mouth, tonsils, nose, sinuses, salivary glands and neck lymph nodes.

Types of Throat Cancer 

There are two main types of throat cancer:

Squamous cell carcinoma develops in the thin, flat cells that line much of the throat. These cells look scale-like when checked under a microscope. This type of throat cancer is the most common in the United States.

Adenocarcinoma begins in the glandular cells of the throat.

Throat cancer includes several different cancers under the head and neck umbrella. Laryngeal cancer and pharyngeal cancer are two of the most common types of throat cancer.

Pharyngeal cancer is broken into three types:

• Nasopharynx cancer forms in the upper part of the throat.
• Oropharynx cancer forms in the middle part of the throat.
• Hypopharynx cancer forms in the bottom part of the throat.

Laryngeal cancer refers to cancer that forms in the larynx, also known as the voice box.

Next Topic: Throat Cancer Risk Factors