To make a diagnosis, your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam of the throat and neck also is needed. Your doctor will feel for swollen lymph nodes in the neck, and look down your throat with a small, long-handled mirror to check for abnormal areas.
Other tests may be used for diagnosis:
Laryngoscopy - The doctor examines the larynx with a laryngoscope (a thin, lighted tube).
Endoscopy - A procedure to look at the organs and tissues inside the body and to check for abnormal areas. An endoscope (a thin, lighted tube) is inserted through an incision in the skin or an opening in the body, such as the mouth. The surgeon will remove tissue samples and lymph nodes for a biopsy if needed.
Computed tomography scan (CT or CAT scan) - A special type of X-ray that makes a series of detailed pictures of the inside the body. A computer is linked to the X-ray machine. Dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed in a pill to help the organs or tissues show up on the X-ray. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - An imaging machine that uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body. This procedure is also called nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).
Biopsy - A biopsy is the removal of cells or tissues, which are viewed under a microscope, to check for signs of cancer.
Barium swallow - A barium swallow test consists of a series of x-rays of the esophagus and stomach. The patient drinks a liquid that contains barium (a silver-white metallic compound). The liquid coats the esophagus and stomach, and x-rays are taken. This procedure is also called an upper GI series.
Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNA) - A thin needle is placed into a lump in the neck. The cells are aspirated, and then examined under a microscope to determine if the lump is cancerous.
PET scan - PET scan helps determine if a tumor has spread to other areas in the body. During a positron emission tomography scan (PET), a small amount of radioactive sugar (glucose) is injected into a vein. The scanner makes computerized pictures of the areas inside the body. Cancer cells absorb more radioactive glucose than normal cells, so the tumor is highlighted on the pictures.