How Are Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancers Diagnosed?

Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers are usually found because of signs or symptoms a person is having. If cancer is suspected, tests will be needed to confirm the diagnosis. Diagnosis in people without symptoms is rare and usually accidental (because of tests done to check other medical problems).

Exams and tests for laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer

If you have signs or symptoms that suggest you might have a cancer of the larynx or hypopharynx, your doctor will recommend one or more exams or tests.

Medical history and physical exam

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms, possible risk factors, family history, and other medical conditions. A thorough physical exam can help find signs of possible cancer or other diseases. In particular, your doctor will pay close attention to your head and neck, looking for abnormal areas in your mouth or throat, as well as enlarged lymph nodes in your neck.

Examination by a specialist

If your doctor suspects a cancer of the larynx or hypopharynx, you will be referred to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor, also known as an otolaryngologist, who will do a more thorough exam of the head and neck area. This will include an exam of the larynx and hypopharynx, known as laryngoscopy, which can be done in 2 ways:


Indirect laryngoscopy: In this exam, the doctor uses special small mirrors to view the larynx and nearby areas.





This exam is usually done in an operating room while you are under general anesthesia (asleep). The doctor uses a rigid laryngoscope to look for tumors in the larynx and hypopharynx. Other parts of the mouth, nose, and throat are examined as well. The doctor may also use an endoscope to look into the esophagus or a bronchoscope to look into the trachea (windpipe).

Your doctor will look at these areas through the scope(s) to find any tumors, see how large they are, and see how far they have spread to surrounding areas. The doctor might also remove (biopsy) small tissue samples from any tumors or other abnormal areas using special instruments operated through the scopes.

Biopsies to diagnose laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers

In a biopsy, the doctor removes a sample of tissue to be looked at under a microscope. It is the only way to confirm the diagnosis of laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer. There are different types of biopsies.


Endoscopic biopsy

The larynx and hypopharynx are deep inside the neck, so removing samples for biopsy can be complex. Biopsies of these areas are done in the operating room while you are under general anesthesia (asleep), rather than in a doctor’s office. The surgeon uses special instruments through a rigid laryngoscope (or other type of endoscope) to remove small tissue samples.

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy

This type of biopsy is not used to remove samples in the larynx or hypopharynx, but it may be done to find the cause of an enlarged lymph node in the neck. A thin, hollow needle is placed through the skin into a mass (or tumor) to get cells for a biopsy. The cells are then looked at under a microscope. If the FNA finds cancer, the pathologist (doctor examining the samples with a microscope) can often tell what type of cancer it is. If the cancer cells look like they might have come from the larynx or hypopharynx, an endoscopic exam and biopsy of these areas will be needed as well.

If the FNA does not find cancer, it only means that cancer was not found in that lymph node. Cancer could still be present in other places. If you are having symptoms that might be from a laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer, you could still need other procedures to find the cause of the symptoms.

FNA biopsies may also be useful in some patients already known to have laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer. If the person has a lump in the neck, an FNA can help determine if the mass is due to spread of the cancer. FNA may also be used in patients whose cancer has been treated by surgery and/or radiation therapy, to help find out if a neck mass in the treated area is scar tissue or if it is a return (recurrence) of the cancer.

Imaging tests

Imaging tests use x-rays, magnetic fields, or radioactive substances to create pictures of the inside of your body. Imaging tests are not used to diagnose laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancers, but they may be done for a number of reasons both before and after a cancer diagnosis, including:

  • To help look for a tumor if one is suspected
  • To learn how far cancer may have spread
  • To help determine if treatment has been effective
  • To look for possible signs of cancer recurrence after treatment

Computed tomography (CT) scan

The CT scan (also known as a CAT scan) uses x-rays to produce detailed cross-sectional images of your body. Instead of taking one picture like a standard x-ray, a CT scanner takes many pictures of the part of your body being studied as it rotates around you. A computer then combines these pictures into an image of a slice of your body. Unlike a regular x-ray, a CT scan creates detailed images of the soft tissues and organs in the body.

This test can help your doctor determine the size of the tumor, if it is growing into nearby tissues, and if it has spread to lymph nodes in the neck. It may also be done to look for spread of cancer to the lungs.


You may be asked to drink 1 to 2 pints of a liquid called oral contrast before the test. This helps outline the digestive tract so that certain areas are not mistaken for tumors. You may also receive an IV (intravenous) line through which a different kind of contrast dye (IV contrast) is injected. This helps better outline other structures in your body. Some people are allergic to the dye and get hives, a flushed feeling, or, rarely, more serious reactions like trouble breathing and low blood pressure. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any allergies or have ever had a reaction to any contrast material used for x-rays.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan

MRI scans use radio waves and strong magnets instead of x-rays. The energy from the radio waves is absorbed and then released in a pattern formed by the type of tissue and by certain diseases. A computer translates the pattern into a very detailed image of parts of your body. A contrast material may be injected just as with CT scans, but it is used less often.

Because it provides a very detailed picture, an MRI scan may be done to look for spread of the cancer in the neck. These scans can be very useful in looking at other areas of the body as well.

MRI scans are a little more uncomfortable than CT scans. First, they take longer – often up to an hour. Second, you have to lie inside a narrow tube, which is confining and can upset people with claustrophobia (a fear of enclosed spaces). Newer, more open MRI machines can sometimes help with this if needed, although the images may not be as sharp in some cases. MRI machines make buzzing and clicking noises, so some centers provide earplugs to help block this noise out.

Barium swallow

This is often the first test done if someone is having a problem with swallowing. For this test, you drink a chalky liquid called barium to coat the walls of the throat and esophagus. A series of x-rays of the throat and esophagus is taken as you swallow. The barium can help show abnormal areas in the throat.

Chest x-ray

A chest x-ray may be done to see if the cancer has spread to the lungs. If any suspicious spots are seen on the chest x-ray, a CT scan of the chest may be needed to get a more detailed picture.

Positron emission tomography (PET) scan


A PET scan may be used to look for possible areas of cancer spread, especially if there is a good chance that the cancer is more advanced. This test can also be used to help tell if a suspicious area seen on another imaging test is cancer or not.


For more information on these tests, see Imaging (Radiology) Tests.

Other tests

Other types of tests may be done as part of a workup in people diagnosed with laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer. These tests are not used to diagnose the cancer, but they may be done to see if a person is healthy enough for other treatments, such as surgery or chemotherapy.

Blood tests are often done to check liver and kidney function, as well as to help evaluate your overall health before treatment. Blood tests are also needed if you are getting chemotherapy because chemo can affect the levels of blood cells in the body.


The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team

