Head and neck considerations in the elderly patient.
An evaluation of head and neck surgery in the elderly reveals that old age should not be an issue in determining the course of treatment. The risks, complication rates, mortality rates, and final outcome of older patients are similar to those seen in younger patients with head and neck cancer. Although age itself should not be an issue in setting forth a plan of treatment, underlying co-morbid factors such as cardiovascular and respiratory illness that may occur with advanced age should be taken into careful account. As our population becomes older, surgeons dealing with head and neck cancer will need to give special consideration to this age group.
Robinson
D S
DS
Department of Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida.
D000368:Aged; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery