- pharyngeal tonsil neoplasia — about 50% of cases;
- palatine tonsil cancer - 34.5%;
- language - 6.5%;
- laryngeal - 2.8%.
At the same time, both a single tumor and their combined lesion can occur.
Risk factors
- Viral infection (HPV16, HIV/AIDS, Epstein-Barr).
- Previous radiation or chemotherapy.
- Chromosomal aberrations.
- Smoking, drinking low-quality alcoholic beverages.
Macroscopically, several forms of formation growth are distinguished:
- Endophytic: flat or explosive (sometimes with ulcers).
- Exophytic: with presence or absence of ulcers.
The endophytic form of growth predominates and occurs in almost 80% of all cases of tonsil or pharyngeal ring lymphoma.
By prevalence, several stages of the process are distinguished:
- 1 — the process is limited by the swallowing ring, the diameter of the tumor is up to 2 cm.
- 2 - differs from the first only in size, diameter - 2-4 cm.
- 3 - the neoplasm spreads to the lymph nodes on the neck.
- 4 — the process spreads to nearby organs and tissues (metastases to the larynx, Eustachian tubes, nasopharynx, skull bones, more distant organs).
Tonsil cancer: symptoms
The common symptoms of the disease include: dizziness, bleeding of the tissues of the oral cavity, weakness, nausea, vomiting, cachexia (exhaustion).
Initially, the symptoms of tonsil cancer are practically absent, and accordingly, the problem is rarely recognized. is the primary reason for consulting a specialist. The palatine tonsils in the initial stages are characterized by exophytic (expansive) neoplasm growth, which changes to an infiltrative-ulcerative form when the mucous membrane is affected.
What does tonsil cancer look like? Usually it is a dense tumor with a lumpy, tight-elastic consistency, the boundaries of which are blurred. The degree of its increase varies widely, often the diameter exceeds 3 cm. bodies The feeling of discomfort when swallowing intensifies, later he. appears during coughing and even during conversation. In the future, pains in the area of the palatine tonsil increase, the timbre of the voice is disturbed, an unpleasant smell from the mouth appears, and with the further spread of the neoplasm, there are pains that radiate to the ear and head.
Early metastasis to regional lymph nodes with their rapid increase is characteristic of tonsil cancer.
Isolated tonsil cancer is a relatively rare phenomenon. The mucous membrane is dull in color with a whitish tint, rough to the touch. There are small point erosions, ulcers on the surface are much less common.
Diagnosis of the disease
Diagnosis is established based on the results of physical and instrumental research methods (laryngoscopy, CT, MRI). A histological examination of the changed tissues is mandatory.
Tonsil cancer: survival
The prognosis of survival depends on many factors: the stage of the process, the response of the tumor to treatment, the general and psychological state of the patient.
Treatment of tonsil cancer
Therapy is based on a comprehensive approach using the entire set of methods of treatment of oncological pathology:
- Surgery: with partial resection of the tonsils and tissues adjacent to them, or laryngectomy if the process is widespread.
- Local radiation therapy using modern innovative technologies is carried out when surgical intervention is impossible, postoperative recurrences or in combination with surgical treatment.
- Chemotherapy can be prescribed both in the preoperative period and after it at all stages of the disease.
Tonsil tumor: prevention
There are no specific prevention methods as such.
- Adequate oral hygiene.
- Rejection of smoking and abuse of alcoholic beverages, especially of low quality.
- Regular examination of the oral cavity by a dentist for the presence of papillomas, their treatment when detected.
- Minimizing contact with carcinogens.
- A balanced diet containing physiological norms of food nutrients, excluding products with food additives and GMOs.
An important and general high level of alertness regarding oncological diseases, which contributes to earlier consultation with specialists in cases of early adverse symptoms.
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