title: Outcome following surgical treatment for regional metastases from cutaneous cancers of the head and neck in patients aged 80 and over.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Population demographics and disease epidemiology is resulting in more elderly patients presenting with regional metastases from cutaneous malignancy of the head and neck region. Surgery remains the most appropriate primary treatment option.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed consecutive patients aged 80 and over who developed regional metastases from cutaneous cancers of head and neck and underwent a neck dissection over a two-and-a-half-year period. Data were obtained from the cancer database and patients' notes. A Kaplan-Meier survival graph was constructed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our study demonstrated a low postoperative morbidity but one patient died from medical complications with in the first 30 days post surgery. The median survival time following surgery is nearly two years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We continue to advocate primary surgery for cutaneous metastatic malignancy from the head and neck area but patients need multidisciplinary team discussions, thorough assessment and counselling.
authors.affiliation: Maxillofacil Surgery, Glan Clwyd Hospital, Bodelwyddan, UK. sunildixit30@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sunil D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Khandavilli
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.forename: Huw B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D037981:Neck Dissection; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome