Influence of age on laryngeal carcinoma

The constant increase in human life expectancy has led to a higher proportion of oncologic patients of advanced age. The clinical characteristics of 272 patients with laryngeal carcinoma diagnosed when they were 70 or older are compared with those of a group of younger patients with the same kind of tumor. The advanced age group showed a higher proportion of women, less tobacco and alcohol use, a predominance of glottic location, and a higher previous morbidity. The T category was similar in both groups, but the advanced age group had a higher proportion of N0 tumors. The planning of treatment was similar in the two groups of patients, except for less use of both chemotherapy and partial larynx surgery in the advanced age group. Results in terms of local and regional control, distant metastasis, and 5-year adjusted survival were similar in both groups of patients. The results suggest that advanced age is not a determining factor when considering radical treatment in a patient with laryngeal carcinoma.