Rachenkrebs

Rachenkrebs, or pharyngeal cancer, is a malignant neoplasm arising in the pharynx, the muscular tube that connects the back of the nose and mouth to the larynx and esophagus. Most pharyngeal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. They are categorized by the part of the pharynx affected: nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and hypopharyngeal cancers.

Risk factors include tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption, and infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) for oropharyngeal cancer; occupational exposures; and, in certain regions, Epstein-Barr virus infection for nasopharyngeal cancer. Symptoms may include a persistent sore throat, difficulty or pain when swallowing, a lump in the neck, ear pain, coughing, or unintended weight loss.

Diagnosis involves a medical history, physical examination, endoscopic evaluation, imaging (CT, MRI, PET-CT), and biopsy to confirm histology and stage the disease using the TNM system. Staging guides treatment planning and prognosis.

Treatment depends on stage and location and may include surgery (such as pharyngectomy), radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, often in combination. Organ-preserving strategies combining radiation with chemotherapy are common for advanced disease. Targeted therapies (e.g., cetuximab) and immunotherapies (e.g., pembrolizumab, nivolumab) are available in select settings. Supportive care and rehabilitation may be needed for swallowing and speech.

Prognosis varies by stage, location, HPV status, and overall health; early-stage cancers have a better outcome. Prevention focuses on reducing risk factors, including smoking cessation, limiting alcohol, HPV vaccination, and avoidance of carcinogenic exposures. The term “Rachenkrebs” is used primarily in German-language medical literature to describe pharyngeal cancer.