Imaging for Laryngeal Malignancies: Guidelines for Clinicians

Radiology has always been an important component in the evaluation of patients with head and neck cancers. Images that are appropriately acquired and systematically interpreted provide comprehensive information on local, regional, and distant disease extent. This impacts treatment decisions for primary or recurrent disease, and aids in prognostication and patient counselling. The recent significant advances in technology and instrumentation for treatment of head neck cancers have taken place in parallel with an increasing sophistication in radiodiagnostic systems. This is especially true for laryngeal neoplasms where there is now greater focus on functional outcomes and personalised treatment, thus expanding the scope and value of imaging.

To formulate evidence-based guidelines on imaging for cancers of the larynx, from diagnosis and staging to monitoring of disease control after completion of treatment.

A multidisciplinary analysis of current guidelines and published studies on the topic was performed.

On the basis of evidence gathered, guidelines were drawn up; optimal suggestions were included for low-resource situations.

These guidelines are intended as an aid to all clinicians dealing with patients of laryngeal cancers. It is hoped that these will be instrumental in facilitating patient care, and in improving outcomes.