What are childhood laryngeal tumors?
Childhood laryngeal tumors form in the voice box, also called the larynx. These tumors may be benign (which means they are not cancer) or cancer. Most laryngeal tumors in children are not cancer and do not spread to other tissues. Both types of tumors need treatment.
The most common type of benign laryngeal tumor is papillomatosis of the larynx. In this condition, papillomas (benign tumors that look like warts) form in the lining of the larynx. These tumors may block the airway and cause trouble breathing. They often come back after treatment and, in rare cases, may turn into cancer in the larynx or the lung.
The larynx is a part of the throat, between the base of the tongue and the trachea (windpipe). The larynx contains the vocal cords, which vibrate and make sound when air is directed against them. The sound echoes through the pharynx, mouth, and nose to make a person's voice.
There are three main parts of the larynx:
- The supraglottis is the upper part of the larynx above the vocal cords, including the epiglottis.
- The glottis is the middle part of the larynx where the vocal cords are located.
- The subglottis is the lower part of the larynx between the vocal cords and the trachea.
Anatomy of the larynx. The larynx is a part of the throat, between the base of the tongue and the trachea. The three main parts of the larynx are the supraglottis (including the epiglottis), the glottis (including the vocal cords), and the subglottis.