Malignant tumors of ENT organs: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Malignant tumors of ENT organs can develop from a number of previous relatively benign growths (malignancy), which are called pre-tumors. In addition to the immediate effect of the tumor on the surrounding tissues and organs in which it originated, so-called paraneoplastic syndromes, which are nonspecific in character and accompany not only malignant growth, but also some benign tumors, for example neurinoma of the pre-collar nerve, developing in the internal auditory passage, squeezing the corresponding nerve trunks their localization.

Paraneoplastic syndromes are various pathological manifestations caused by the influence of the tumor process on the metabolism and functional activity of the body's regulatory systems. For the most part, these syndromes burden the course of the tumor process, and in some cases, their symptoms help diagnose the disease. Over 60 paraneoplastic syndromes are described, among which syndromes with metabolic processes, endocrine functions, skin lesions, vascular disorders, autoimmune disorders, allergic reactions, CNS lesions, neuromuscular disorders, etc., are isolated. The incidence of tumors increases with age, and in most cases cases they occur after 40 years. However, some tumors are more common in children than in adults. These include teratomas - neoplasms from embryonic tissue, tumors from the nervous tissue, peculiar kidney tumors (nephroblastoma) and various angiomas - vascular tumors.

[1], [2], [3]

Symptoms of malignant tumors of the ENT organs

It is generally believed that malignant tumors in the initial stages are asymptomatic, but in most cases, with a careful and in-depth history, one or more small symptoms of the general nature of an oncological disease (deterioration of well-being, fatigue, decreased appetite, weakness, etc.) a tumor or its precursor - a pre-tumor - develops in an organ whose function is obvious to both the diseased and the surrounding (for example, laryngeal function), these small symptoms are necessary Consider taking into account the principle of oncological alertness. Symptoms of each form of a malignant (benign) tumor depend on its location and extent of spread, which is usually denoted by the International System, where T is the primary tumor site, N is the lymph node involvement, and M is the presence of hematogenous metastases in distant organs. The degree of expression of each of these characteristics is characterized by digital indicators. There is a classification in which all clinical manifestations of tumor growth are divided into stages:

• stage I - the tumor is limited to the limits of the organ, metastasis is absent;
• stage II - a tumor within the affected organ, there are metastases in the regional lymph nodes;
• stage III - a tumor of considerable size with germination in adjacent organs and tissues, there are multiple metastases in the regional lymph nodes;
• stage IV - the presence of distant metastases, regardless of the size and prevalence of the primary tumor.

Diagnosis of malignant tumors of ENT organs

Diagnosis of malignant tumors of ENT organs is carried out by the same methods as the recognition of other diseases. The earliest possible recognition of oncological diseases of organs accessible to visual inspection is most easily possible, since it is possible not only to examine them, but also to take material for morphological investigation. The most difficult is early diagnosis of tumors of internal organs. In this case, special methods of investigation become crucial: radiological, radionuclide, morphological, immunological, etc. Clinical practice is increasingly introducing methods of research with nuclides, called radionuclide diagnostics, which is a method of recognizing pathological changes in human organs and systems by radiopharmaceutical preparations, which include compounds labeled with radionuclides. The registration of the effects of radionuclides introduced into the body is carried out using scintigraphy, scanning, radiometry, radiography. Scintigraphy, the most common method of radionuclide diagnostics, allows one to obtain an image of the organ and judge by its size and shape, to identify the lesion in the form of a region of increased or decreased accumulation of the introduced radionuclide, and to evaluate the functional state of the organ by the rate of accumulation and isolation of the radiopharmaceutical. The use of radionuclide diagnostics in connection with an extremely low dose of the nuclide, a short half-life of the nuclide and rapid elimination does not pose a threat to the body. The final stage of the diagnosis is a morphological study, which is carried out using histological (biopsy) or cytological methods of examining cells in washings, scrapings from the affected area. According to the method of taking material for histological examination, incision, puncture and aspiration biopsy are distinguished. This may require a preliminary dissection of the tissues to provide access to a deep-seated focus (open biopsy). In tumors of the upper respiratory tract, the most commonly used is a biopsy due to the availability of the object of study. In the study of the trachea and bronchi, aspiration biopsy of sputum and washings is used. Biopsy is performed only in a medical institution, strictly observing the requirements of asepsis and taking into account the general condition of the patient. The resulting material is immediately placed in a freshly prepared fixing solution containing 1 part of formalin and 4-5 parts of water and, together with the accompanying document, the accompanying document is delivered to the laboratory of the pathoanatomical department.

[4], [5], [6], [7]

Treatment of malignant tumors of ENT organs

Treatment of malignant tumors of ENT organs is carried out by various methods adequate for this type of tumor, depending on the location, stage of development, the patient's age, general condition, etc. The main method is surgical, in which, along with the tumor, part of the healthy surrounding tissues, as well as suspicious for the presence of metastases in the regional lymph nodes. In a large percentage of cases, surgical interventions are supplemented with radiotherapy and medicinal methods with the help of antineoplastic agents. In recent years, methods of immunotherapy for malignant tumors have been intensively developed, aimed at activating both the general and specific protective forces of the body.

How to prevent malignant tumors of ENT organs?

Prevent malignant tumors of ENT organs in two ways - preventing the onset of the tumor process and preventing its development. The first way is based on information on blastomogenic agents in the environment. Reducing contact with oncogenic factors leads to a reduction in the incidence of tumors. The second way is based on the timely detection and treatment of precancerous conditions, which is facilitated by systematic mass preventive examinations of the population.