Treatment of elderly patients with head and neck cancer in an aging society: Focus on geriatric assessment and surgical treatment.
Auris Nasus Larynx
; 51(4): 647-658, 2024 Apr 16.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38631257
ABSTRACT
Previous studies of the treatment of elderly head and neck cancer (HNC) patients were very limited and sometimes controversial. Although conclusions differ across various reports, it is often concluded that advanced chronological age does not directly affect prognosis, but that comorbidities and declines in physical and cognitive functions promote the occurrence of adverse events, especially with surgical treatment. Geriatric assessment (GA) and its screening tools are keys to help us understand overall health status and problems, predict life expectancy and treatment tolerance, and to influence treatment choices and interventions to improve treatment compliance. In addition, personal beliefs and values play a large role in determining policies for HNC treatment for elderly patients, and a multidisciplinary approach is important to support this. In this review, past research on HNC in older adults is presented, and the current evidence is explained, focusing on the management of elderly HNC patients, with an emphasis on the existing reports on each treatment stage and modality, especially the surgical procedures.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
Auris Nasus Larynx
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article