Joseph smoked two packs of cigarettes a day for 25 years.He also consumed 2-3 packs of beer on weekends routinely since his early 20's.Now at age 50,he contacts his physician with complaints of a chronic cough,difficulty swallowing and hoarseness of voice.Two weeks later,Joseph has been scheduled for surgery to remove his larynx and has been referred to a speech-language pathologist for an evaluation and probable vocal rehabilitation because of a diagnosis of

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Joseph's history of smoking and alcohol consumption, along with the symptoms he is experiencing, suggest a diagnosis of laryngeal carcinoma, or cancer of the larynx. The recommended surgery to remove his larynx supports this diagnosis. The referral to a speech-language pathologist for evaluation and vocal rehabilitation also supports this diagnosis, as removal of the larynx results in a loss of voice that requires rehabilitation. Choices A, B, and C all involve benign conditions of the vocal folds and would not typically require removal of the larynx or referral to a speech-language pathologist.

Joseph Smoked Two Packs of Cigarettes a Day for 25