A UK case-control study confirms the ten features significantly (P <0.01) associated with laryngeal cancer. Hoarseness had the highest individual predictive value (PPV) of 2.7% (95% confidence interval = 277 – 2945).
- hoarseness: OR 904 (277 – 2945)
- sore throat: first attendance: OR 6.2 (3.7 to 10); re-attendance: OR 7.7 (2.6 – 23)
- dysphagia: OR 6.5 (2.7 – 16)
- otalgia: OR 5.0 (1.9 – 13)
- dyspnoea, re-attendance: OR 4.7 (1.9 – 12)
- mouth symptoms: OR 4.7 (1.8 – 12)
- recurrent chest infection: OR 4.5 (2.4 – 8.5)
- insomnia: OR 2.7 (1.3 – 5.6)
- raised inflammatory markers: OR 2.5 (1.5 – 4.1)
Symptom combinations of sore throat plus either dysphagia, dyspnoea, or otalgia, gave PPVs >5%.
Over 1700 (of 55.6 million) people are diagnosed with laryngeal cancer annually in England.
Reference
Shephard, Elizabeth, A. Parkinson, Molly AL. Hamilton, William T. Recognising laryngeal cancer in primary care: a large case–control study using electronic records. Br J Gen Pract 2019;
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp19X700997
