A case-control study on complications and survival in elderly patients undergoing major head and neck surgery.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Several studies in the literature have shown that older patients have a poor prognosis after the treatment of cancer. They are frequently considered to have a high surgical risk and undergo substandard treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This case-control study analyzes complications, mortality, and survival in 115 patients 70 years of age or older and 115 controls matched by site and clinical stage. Most tumors were located at the oral cavity, salivary glands, pharynx, or larynx. RESULTS: The frequency of postoperative complications, mortality, and recurrences were similar in both groups. Twenty elderly patients and 9 controls died due to causes not related to cancer. The 5-year survival rates were 43% for the elderly patients and 55.6% for the control patients (P = 0.1038). CONCLUSION: The main causes of death in the elderly patients were not related to cancer or treatment complications. This emphasizes the need for the use of standard treatment for all patients who remain in good medical status.