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Treatment considerations for head and neck cancer in the elderly

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2006

Eric M Genden ,
Alessandra Rinaldo ,
Ashok R Shaha ,
Gary L Clayman ,
Jochen A Werner ,
Carlos Suárez  and
Alfio Ferlito
Eric M Genden
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Alessandra Rinaldo
Affiliation:
Department of Surgical Sciences, ENT Clinic, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
Ashok R Shaha
Affiliation:
Head and Neck Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
Gary L Clayman
Affiliation:
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, the University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Jochen A Werner
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Marburg, Germany.
Carlos Suárez
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology and Instituto Universitario de Oncologia Principado de Asturias, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain.
Alfio Ferlito
Affiliation:
Department of Surgical Sciences, ENT Clinic, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
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Abstract

As life expectancy increases, surgeons can expect an increasing number of geriatric patients. In turn, the number of elderly patients presenting with head and neck cancer is likely to increase. Management of this subpopulation has become a source of debate because there is a paucity of randomized data regarding the effect of age on treatment response and morbidity associated with the treatment of head and neck cancer. The management of head and neck cancer in the elderly depends on the patient’s age and general condition, the stage of disease, the effects of treatment on quality of life (such as speech and swallowing), patient and family wishes, and active physician participation in continued care. Elderly patient’s comorbid conditions need appropriate attention especially if surgery is to be undertaken. The aim of this review is to examine the current literature in an attempt to develop an approach to the treatment of the elderly patient with head and neck cancer and to define the pertinent issues that require further study.

Keywords

ElderlyHead and Neck CancerTreatment
Type
Review Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 119 , Issue 3 , March 2005 , pp. 169 - 174
Copyright
© 2005 Royal Society of Medicine Press

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