[Prevalence of squamous carcinoma of the larynx]

A study was made to determine how prevalent laryngeal cancer proved to be in 2000 E.N.T. out-patients upon their initial examination. The aim was to ascertain which population was at high risk for laryngeal cancer through the use of computerized analysis of the risk factors. Furthermore, the authors wanted to determine the sensitivity, specificity, predictive value and safety of fiberoptic laryngoscopy as a diagnostic tool to be used in screening. By scanning risk factors for laryngeal cancer, subjects were classified into 3 risk classes: low, medium and high. A total of 71 positive endoscopic tests were found in the high risk class alone. Further diagnostic procedures carried out on these subjects revealed 38 cases of invasive cancer, 43 'in situ' carcinoma and 24 precancerous lesions of the larynx. These data are discussed and the suggestion made that screening for laryngeal cancer only include males over the age of 40. Scanning risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol consumption could also be effective in identifying the high risk groups for laryngeal cancer.