P. Ehlinger et al., CARCINOMA OF THE ORAL CAVITY IN PATIENTS OVER 75 YEARS OF AGE, International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery, 22(4), 1993, pp. 218-220
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%).