Imaging is only required if it may change management
Imaging of Primary
- T1 / T2
- Minority require imaging
- Consider for anterior commissure tumours if concern about thyroid cartilage invasion
- T3/4
- CT / MRI rarely helpful if total laryngectomy planned
- CT / MRI recommended if chemoradiation or partial laryngectomy considered
- Thyroid cartilage
- Paraglottic extension
- Pre-epiglottic space involvement if supracricoid laryngectomy planned
- Staging of cervical nodes
- If primary radiation considered: Ultrasound, CT or MRI of larynx to exclude thyroid cartilage invasion
Cervical metastases
- N0 neck: No need to image if elective neck dissection planned or for T1 cancers
- N+ neck: Image (U/S or CT) if concern about resectability
Distant metastases: CXR / CT chest: T2 – 4 cancers
Synchronous primary: CXR / CT chest
Index: Clinical Practice Guidelines for Supraglottic Cancer
Resource Appropriate Supraglottic Cancer Guideline Scenarios