Abstract
The number of elderly patients with head and neck cancer is increasing. The choice of treatment for them is difficult, because there is no definitive criterion for decision making. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed our clinical practice for 173 elderly patients, who are 75 years old or more, during the period from January 2002 to December 2011. We discuss the strategy for choosing the appropriate method of treatment.
For 41 out of 51 patients with laryngeal cancer, radical treatment could be appropriate with good outcomes. Decision making for laryngeal cancer is relatively easy. However, the choice of treatment for patients with oral, hypopharyngeal or oropharyngeal cancer is quite complicated, especially, for those patients who are 80 years old or more. In this category of patients, less than half could be subjected to radical treatment. Radical treatment could not be considered the appropriate choice in 63% of the patients due to comorbidities.
These results indicate that in elderly patients with head and neck cancer it is important to choose the appropriate treatment after careful and intensive evaluation of comorbid systemic diseases.
