Cutaneous Head and Neck Malignancies in the Elderly

Brian B Hughley; Cecelia E Schmalbach

doi:10.1016/j.cger.2018.01.004

Cutaneous Head and Neck Malignancies in the Elderly

Clin Geriatr Med. 2018 May;34(2):245-258. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2018.01.004. Epub 2018 Feb 17.

Authors

Brian B Hughley¹, Cecelia E Schmalbach²

Affiliations

¹ Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, BDB 563, 1720 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294-0012, USA. Electronic address: bhughley@uabmc.edu.
² Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Head and Neck-Microvascular Surgery, Clinical Affairs, Indiana University School of Medicine, Fesler Hall, 1130 W. Michigan Street, Suite 400, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.

PMID: 29661336
DOI: 10.1016/j.cger.2018.01.004

Abstract

Cutaneous malignancy of the head and neck affects a large proportion of elderly patients. The severity ranges from small, easily treatable lesions to large, invasive, potentially metastatic tumors. Surgical treatment is the primary treatment of most skin cancers; however, geriatric patients are more likely to have multiple comorbidities that increase the risk of surgery. Multiple treatment modalities exist, including surgical, radiation, and medical therapy. Recommendations and treatment options for basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, and melanoma are outlined and reviewed.

Keywords: Cutaneous; Elderly; Geriatric; Malignancy; Multidisciplinary treatment; Skin cancer.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Aged
Geriatric Assessment / methods
Head and Neck Neoplasms* / epidemiology
Head and Neck Neoplasms* / pathology
Head and Neck Neoplasms* / therapy
Humans
Incidence
Interdisciplinary Communication
Patient Care Management / methods
Skin Neoplasms* / epidemiology
Skin Neoplasms* / pathology
Skin Neoplasms* / therapy