The management of head and neck cancer in elderly patients.

Publication date: Available online 1 February 2018
Source:Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology
Author(s): Mauro Magnano, Fabio Bertone, Marco Andreis, Paolo Boffano, Giacomo Machetta
ObjectiveA progressive increase of the number of elderly patients with head-andneck cancer has been observed in the last years. The aim of this study was to assess our experience in the management of elderly patients with head and neck cancer in comparison with younger patients.Study designA retrospective review was conducted for all patients admitted and treated for newly diagnosed head and neck cancer between January 2008 and December 2012. The clinical characteristics, management approaches, and outcome data were recorded.ResultsA total of 316 head and neck cancer patients (232 males, 84 females) were enrolled: 203 (64%) were in the young group, whereas 113 patients (36%) were in the elderly group. Comorbidities (p < 0.000005) and stage IV tumors (p < 0.0005) were more frequently observed in the elderly group. Treatment options were uniformly distributed within the two groups; only radiotherapy alone was more frequently administered in elderly patients (p < 0.0005).ConclusionsChronologic age should not be a reason to deny appropriate treatments that could prevent death in elderly patients. A careful pre-treatment assessment should always be performed.



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