Finding the right tests…
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Finding the right tests…
CT Scan
A hoarse voice that hasn't cleared in three weeks is one of the signs NIDCD lists as worth a doctor's visit, and it's a common reason this scan gets ordered when a vocal cord problem or laryngeal mass is suspected. A laryngoscopy shows the surface of your vocal cords, but it can't see how far a tumor reaches under the mucosa or whether it has grown into the cartilage that frames your voice box. One imaging study comparing CT to actual surgical tissue found it was about 83% accurate at determining tumor stage, and it picked up cartilage invasion with roughly 87% sensitivity. That detail changes which surgery is planned.
This scan images your larynx - the voice box - including the vocal cords, the surrounding cartilage, and nearby lymph nodes in the neck. It shows a tumor's size, whether it has spread beyond the vocal cords, and whether it has reached into the cartilage, which affects what kind of surgery is possible.
NIDCD lists a hoarse voice lasting more than three weeks, especially without a cold or flu, as a reason to see a doctor. Other signs it flags include coughing up blood, trouble swallowing, a lump in the neck, and pain that doesn't go away. This scan is often ordered once those signs point toward the larynx itself rather than a passing infection.
An endoscope lets a doctor look directly at your vocal cords, but it only shows the surface. This scan looks underneath - how far an abnormal area extends into the deeper layers of the larynx and whether it has reached the cartilage that gives the voice box its structure.
Cartilage sits close to the vocal cords, and whether a tumor has grown into it changes how advanced the disease is considered and what kind of surgery is possible - sometimes the difference between preserving the voice box and removing it. One study comparing CT findings to tissue examined after surgery found cartilage invasion was picked up with around 87% sensitivity.
The same study found CT matched the final surgical staging in about 83% of cases, though it was less reliable at detecting whether a tumor had spread below the vocal cords.
Ask your doctor how these findings apply to your own case.
A laryngoscopy shows the surface of your vocal cords, but it can't see how far a growth extends beneath the surface or into nearby cartilage. This scan fills in that detail, which matters for planning treatment.
It can show size, extent, and whether cartilage is involved, which helps guide the diagnosis. A definite answer still needs a biopsy.
Cartilage invasion generally means the disease is more advanced and can change what kind of surgery is possible. One study found CT detects this with around 87% sensitivity.
One study comparing CT to tissue examined after surgery found it matched the final stage in about 83% of cases. It was somewhat less reliable at detecting spread below the vocal cords specifically.
This page is general information about the test, not medical advice. Your own report's reference ranges apply — please discuss your results with your doctor.
Contrast is often used to see the larynx's soft tissue and blood vessels clearly, though your doctor decides case by case. Ask your doctor or the centre whether it applies to your scan.
Yes, CT uses X-rays, so there is some radiation exposure. Tell your doctor or the technologist if there's any chance you're pregnant.
Preparation can depend on whether contrast is planned. Ask your doctor or the centre directly about what to do beforehand.