A swelling in the throat is the appearance of neoplasms of various natures that affect the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx. Such a branch of medicine as oncology covers exclusively true tumors, without dealing with edema, swelling and inflammation of the tissues of the oral cavity and throat.
Hemangioma is one of the types of benign tumors that are characterized by uncontrolled growth and division of abnormal cells.
It is hemangiomas that are the most common tumor diseases of the nasopharynx.
Epidemiology
All tumor processes occurring in the pharynx can be divided into
- benign formations;
- malignant formations.
A benign tumor of the larynx is not fatal to humans and is diagnosed much more often than a malignant one. Similar neoplasms affecting the nasopharynx occur mainly in the male population, aged from twenty to forty-five years.
Despite the relative safety of hemangiomas, such tumors require timely diagnosis and proper treatment.
Hemangioma can degenerate into a malignant formation.
So, for example, papilloma of the larynx, in the absence of timely treatment, turns into cancer in more than 10% of situations. Moreover, the process of rebirth can occur within one year or not at all.
Also, situations are often encountered when the tumor is of a relatively benign nature, penetrating and accumulating in various tissues.
The likelihood of a throat swelling increases in the presence of certain factors.
- Smoking negatively affects all internal organs, especially the lungs. Therefore, smokers have a higher risk of developing and developing cancer than non-smokers. Smoke and resins enter the oral cavity, settle on the mucous membrane, causing dryness of the pharyngeal surface, irritation, which can subsequently cause benign or malignant neoplasms. Also, a large amount of harmful substances contained in tobacco smoke can cause significant harm to health, reducing overall immunity.
- Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.
- Work in highly dusty rooms where there is a lot of fine dust (coal, asbestos), which can penetrate through the nasopharynx and settle on the mucous membrane of the throat.
- An inherited predisposition also increases the risk of developing a tumor.
- Improper performance of oral hygiene procedures.
- Over sixty years of age.
Benign tumors of the larynx are distinguished from malignant tumors in the following ways:
- the growth and development of the neoplasm is slow: in this case, the increase in the tumor and its spread can occur both outside (exophytic development) and inside the affected tissues (endophytic development);
- lack of impact on nearby lymph nodes;
- characterized by a flat surface of the neoplasm, without roughness (the exception in this case is papillomas);
- the mucous surface of the tumor does not change its appearance, however, it may have a more distinct vascular pattern;
- the neoplasm has clear edges;
- metastases do not occur, that is, the formation of a secondary focus of the pathological process does not occur.
Diagnostic methods
With a suspicion of the development of a tumor, they most often turn to an otolaryngologist. To make an accurate diagnosis and determine the type of tumor, it is necessary to interview the patient, conduct an initial examination and carry out a number of diagnostic procedures.
- Fiber endoscopy - examination of the pharynx and oral cavity of the patient using endoscopic instruments.
- Laryngoscopy is a visual examination of the larynx using a special mirror and reflector.
- Biopsy - a study in which a smear of the pharyngeal mucosa is necessary in order to identify and identify dangerous cells.
- Ultrasound examination, carried out in order to determine the size of the lymph nodes and analyze nearby tissues. For a more accurate examination, diagnostic methods such as computed and magnetic resonance imaging are additionally used.
- It is also recommended to do a general and biochemical blood test.
Types of tumors and their treatment
As a result of diagnostic procedures in the event of neoplasms in the pharynx, doctors distinguish several types of tumors. So, the most common of them are:
- papillomas;
- angiomas;
- pachyderma;
- leukopathy;
- angiofibromas;
- laryngeal cyst.
The most common types of benign neoplasms are papillomas and angiomas.
Papilloma is usually represented by single or numerous outgrowths localized in the upper respiratory tract. Outwardly, such neoplasms look like cauliflower inflorescences. Such neoplasms often lead to shortness of breath, cause discomfort during eating and deviations in the work of the speech apparatus. The disease is caused by human papillomavirus of the sixth and eleventh types. The main feature of papilloma is uneven, undulating growth periods, from rapid development to complete calm.
Treatment of papilloma is carried out mainly by surgery in a hospital setting.
Also, modern medicine uses methods of non-surgical treatment - the photodynamic method.
When pachydermia of the larynx occurs, cellular layering occurs, localized on the vocal folds located in the middle part of the larynx. Pachyderma of the larynx is characterized by the following symptoms:
- hoarseness, turning into the complete disappearance of the voice;
- dry, annoying cough;
- difficulty swallowing food and saliva;
- a general decrease in immunity, as well as the appearance of signs of general poisoning of the body;
- feeling of a foreign object, tightness in the throat.
Neoplasms with such a tumor of the larynx have a warty structure, outwardly similar to plaques, the color of which, depending on the degree of keratinization of the skin, can vary from light gray to yellow and even pink. Often, pachyderma is malignant. The sizes of the plaques can also vary. Often the cause of the disease is frequent inflammation localized in the throat. One of the characteristic symptoms of the disease is a cyanotic color of the mucous membrane located around the tumor focus.
Important! The likelihood of developing pachydermia increases with constant irritation of the larynx, for example, with smoking, drinking alcohol, excessive stress on the ligaments.
Pachyderma is a precancerous condition. That is why, at the first symptoms of the disease, it is necessary to consult a doctor and undergo the necessary examination to make sure of the cause of the disease and choose the right treatment. Therapy for pachydermia is based on surgical intervention, and also requires a histological examination.
Vascular tumors or angiomas are a fairly common disease characterized by the appearance of benign neoplasms in the nasopharynx region. Moreover, tumors of this kind are often localized on various tissues of the organs of the human body. Angiomas are benign neoplasms, the treatment of which is carried out both by surgical methods and with the help of drugs. Treatment with radiation therapy is also possible.There are two main types of vascular tumors:
- hemangiomas - formations arising from blood vessels;
- lymphangiomas - formations from the lymphatic vessels.
Hemangioma of the larynx causes expansion of the capillaries located on the vestibular apparatus and vocal folds. Such a benign formation most often does not have clear boundaries, it can be encapsulated or diffuse. The main danger of this type of tumor is the high likelihood of severe bleeding that threatens a person's life. Provided that the disease develops in a diffuse way, that is, it also affects nearby tissues, the likelihood of disturbances in the work of nearby organs increases.
The characteristic signs of hemangioma are:
- neoplasms of a reddish-bluish tint;
- slow tumor growth;
- small size of the neoplasm.
Symptoms when a hemangioma appears is ambiguous and is determined by the location of the neoplasm and its size.
- With a small size of the neoplasm and localization in the upper part of the larynx, the patient often complains of a dry cough, as well as a feeling of tightness and the presence of a foreign object in the throat. With an increase in the size of the tumor, the symptoms are aggravated - there is hoarseness, sore throat, cough, possibly the appearance of an admixture of blood in the sputum.
- If the hemangioma is localized in the vocal folds, in this case, the patient complains of voice changes, hoarseness, which in the process of the development of the disease can develop into aphonia - loss of sonority of the voice.
- If a large tumor is located in the lower larynx, the growth may cause shortness of breath and other breathing problems.
Unlike hemangiomas, lymphangiomas are a consequence of the expansion of the lymphatic vessels. This type of benign tumor is characterized by a pale yellow color. Neoplasms can be located in the epiglottis, as well as in the subglottic space and in the laryngeal ventricles.
Hemangiomas are more dangerous for a person, in comparison with lymphangiomas, since in case of damage to the latter, profuse bleeding does not occur. However, despite this, it is the lymphangioma that causes more discomfort, and therefore requires timely treatment.
At the initial stages of development, the pathology does not have pronounced symptoms, therefore angiomas are most often detected randomly in the diagnosis of other diseases. Often the hemangioma remains inactive for many years, after which it begins to rapidly increase in size. The impetus for rapid development can be pregnancy in women, a sharp decrease in immunity.
The main treatment for angioma is surgical removal or the use of a galvanocaustic loop.
Angiofibroma is another type of benign neoplasm that can occur in the nasopharynx. Most often, fibroma of the larynx appears in adolescent boys between the ages of ten and eighteen. After puberty ends, angiofibroma can resolve on its own.
This type of fibroma consists of connective tissue fibers and a large number of capillaries, which can be localized in the nasopharynx or larynx.
In the process of growth and development of angiofibroma, such characteristic manifestations can occur as:
- asymmetry of the face;
- changes in tissues adjacent to the tumor;
- shift of the eyeballs;
- deformation of nerve endings;
- violation of blood circulation in the brain.
The main symptoms of angiofibroma localized in the nasopharynx area include:
- feeling of tightness and stuffiness in the nose, as the disease progresses, breathing through the nose becomes impossible;
- dry and sore throat;
- lack of smell;
- hoarseness and nasalness in the voice;
- the emergence of an "adenoid face" as a result of the appearance of puffiness and lack of nasal breathing;
- periodic nosebleeds.
Often angiofibroma, localized in the upper respiratory tract, occurs simultaneously with purulent otitis media or sinusitis, which significantly complicates the process of making the correct diagnosis.
Outwardly, a neoplasm with angiofibroma resembles a scarlet circle with a bumpy or smooth surface. Most often, surgical intervention is indispensable in this case.
Laryngeal leukoplakia is a mucosal lesion that causes keratinization of epithelial tissue. Neoplasms in this case have a white or light gray tint. It should be noted that leukoplakia refers to benign tumors, which, in the absence of timely treatment, can degenerate into malignant tumors. Therefore, in the event of leukoplakia, it is necessary to periodically undergo an examination using a biopsy of the affected areas of the mucous membrane. In this case, surgical removal of the affected area of the larynx is also indicated.
