Laryngeal Cancer: Epidemiology, Etiology, and Prevention: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Laryngeal cancer comprises 30%-40% of head and neck malignancies, and it is the most common malignancy in otolaryngology. The main risk factors for laryngeal cancer are tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, gastroesophageal reflex, Plummer-Vinson syndrome, exposure to heat, chemicals, and some viral infections. This literature review summarizes all known data over the past decade with an assessment of the main etiological factors related to cancer incidence, general measurement issues in the cancer epidemiology and the current state of science in relation to laryngeal cancer. The geographical distribution of laryngeal cancer also reveals some important aspects. Europe remains the most prevalent continent for this type of malignancy, whilst the epidemiologic burden in Africa remains low. Overall, there are clear differences in morbidity and mortality from laryngeal cancer between urban and rural areas, with gender inequalities. In some countries, the incidence rates are high in rural areas, and in some, such as in China, the urban population is more affected. High rates of laryngeal cancer are closely associated with both low average income and a high percentage of the population with lower-than-average education countries with higher Socio-demographic Index (SDI) have made greater improvements in the treatment of LC than countries with lower SDI. Epidemiological data on risk factors can provide valuable information for developing cancer prevention strategies.