@article{3142174,
    title = "Head and neck cancer in the elderly: An overview on the treatment
modalities",
    author = "Syrigos, Kostas N. and Karachalios, Dimitris and Karapanagiotou, Eleni and M. and Nutting, Christopher M. and Manolopoulos, Leonidas and and Harrington, Kevin J.",
    journal = "Cancer Treatment Reviews",
    year = "2009",
    volume = "35",
    number = "3",
    pages = "237-245",
    publisher = "Elsevier Sci Ltd, Exeter, United Kingdom",
    issn = "0305-7372, 1532-1967",
    doi = "10.1016/j.ctrv.2008.11.002",
    keywords = "Elderly; Head and neck cancer; Geriatric assessment; Multidisciplinary
approach; Surgery; Radiotherapy; Chemotherapy",
    abstract = "The percentage of elderly people with head and neck cancers (HNC) is
rising due to increasing average lifespan. As with younger patients,
elderly patients require a multidisciplinary approach in order to
optimise treatment results. The biological, not the chronological, age
should be defined individually based on co-morbidities and performance
status. A comprehensive geriatric assessment represents the first and
essential step for selecting further treatment options. Major
improvements have been accomplished in surgical techniques and
radiotherapy delivery. Several chemotherapeutic agents and targeted
therapies with different toxicity profile are also available. However,
the randomised studies that defined the nature of these improvements
included only a small proportion of patients older than 65 years. In
deciding which treatment strategy would be suitable for an individual
elderly patient, we review the literature regarding surgery,
radiotherapy, and chemotherapy or their various combinations. (C) 2008
Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved."
}