Laryngeal Cancer in Women: Unveiling Gender-Specific Risk Factors, Treatment Challenges, and Survival Disparities

Abstract

Laryngeal cancer is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with a significantly higher prevalence among men than women. However, the incidence, clinical characteristics, and specific treatment of laryngeal cancer in women have often been overlooked by research. This review aims to examine gender differences in incidence, risk factors, hormonal mechanisms, survival, and therapeutic approaches for laryngeal cancer in women. Although smoking and alcohol remain the main risk factors, evidence suggests that women may be more vulnerable to the harmful effects of these behaviors, with a relative higher risk than men. In addition, hormonal factors such as estrogen may influence women's susceptibility to laryngeal cancer, accelerating tumor growth and complicating treatment. Differences in treatment between the sexes, with women tending to receive less intensive treatment than men, is another crucial aspect that needs more attention. This article also analyses the disparities in survival, highlighting that women often have a better prognosis, although this trend varies according to demographic characteristics and the health system. The increasing incidence of laryngeal cancer in women requires increased research to fully understand risk factors and underlying biological mechanisms in order to develop more personalized treatments and optimize clinical outcomes for patients.

Keywords: gender discrepancies; hormonal factors; laryngeal cancer; woman.

Figure 1

PRISMA 2020 flow diagram of study selection process of the literature.

Figure 2

Psychological impact of laryngeal cancer on women.

Figure 3

Summary of characteristics of laryngeal carcinoma in women.