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Most cases occur between the ages of 50 and 70. Air passes through the pharynx and then the larynx on the way to the windpipe (trachea) and into the lungs. The larynx has a small piece of tissue over it, called the epiglottis, to keep food from going into it or into the air passages. There are three main parts of the larynx: the glottis (the middle part of the larynx where the vocal cords are located); the supraglottis (the tissue above the glottis); and the subglottis (the tissue below the glottis). It is most commonly found in people who smoke. In these cases, voice may be preserved although its quality may not be normal. In other cases, total laryngectomy - with or without radiation therapy or chemotherapy - may be the only life-saving solution. During this operation, a new route for breathing is surgically created.
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