We report the results of a retrospective review of the data of 52 patients over the age of 75 years with hypopharyngeal carcinoma who were treated at our institution between January 2012 and December 2021, to determine their current status, including the age, disease stage, performance status, presence/absence of double cancer, number of comorbidities, treatment method, treatment rate, postoperative complications, and prognosis. Among the cases of radical cure achieved by treatment, the performance status became worse in 61%. Of the 52 patients, 44 (85%) selected treatment to achieve radical cure, and 8 selected non-radical cure treatments.
Complications involving the site of injury occurred most frequently after surgery, and dysphagia and aspiration pneumonia were the most frequently encountered complications after radiotherapy.
There were significant differences in the 5-year diseases-specific survival rates between patients with different disease stages (I and II vs. IV), number of comorbidities (Charlson Comorbidity Index: 0–4 vs. over 5), and treatments (radical treatment vs. non-radical treatment).
Treatment of patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma should be individualized based on their age, disease stage, performance status, presence/absence of double cancer, number of comorbidities, comprehension ability, family cooperation, etc.
As the performance status deteriorates more easily in older people, it is desirable to decide on a treatment policy based not only on the age, but also the number of comorbidities and expected comprehension ability of the patients. In conclusion, we think that patients would prefer deciding the way of treatment based on the potential for radical cure regardless of their age.
