CARCINOMA OF THE ORAL CAVITY IN PATIENTS OVER 75 YEARS OF AGE

The results have been analyzed of a 15-year retrospective study on the presentation and survival of 46 patients aged greater-than-or-equal-t o 75 years with oral carcinoma. All tumors were staged according to th e UICC criteria. The presence of other malignant tumors in nine, prema lignancy in five, and systemic disease in 15 patients was noted. A lar ge subpopulation of elderly women, nonusers of alcohol and tobacco, us ually with advanced disease, was found. In one-quarter of the patients who underwent surgery, a major resection with primary flap reconstruc tion was judged to be necessary. In general, this type of surgery was well tolerated. Three-year survival was 60%; women, systemically compr omised patients, and patients with stage III and IV tumors did worse. A recurrence ratio of 59% was found after 5 years, recurrence usually appearing during the first year. The conversion rate was low (8.5%).