[Treatment of oral carcinoma in elderly patients--case reports and associated problems]

Three very elderly patients (more than 90 years old) suffering from oral carcinoma are reported with a discussion concerning complications of treatment and safety of surgery. In all cases, pretreatment with chemotherapy and/or chemo- and radiotherapy could be uncomplicatedly followed by surgery to excise the primary lesion done neck dissection. In one case, however, surgery after potent therapy with PLM, 5-FU and irradiation for the recurrence at the primary site was complicated by any severe consequences. Based on the clinical course of the patients, surgical treatment seems to be rather beneficial in very elderly cancer victims with the aim of avoiding complications caused by the usual conservative therapies.